Keane shows Cats commitment with long-term plan

Nov 18 2008 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

ROY Keane has hinted he will sign a new Sunderland contract after admitting he may need to revise his three-year plan for the club because it could take longer to achieve.

Teenage striker Martyn Waghorn yesterday joined Charlton Athletic on a four-week loan as part of Keane’s long-term thinking. There has been concern outside of the club, if not within, that Keane is yet to extend the three-year contract he was handed when he took the job in 2006. But the Irishman’s longer-term commitment was underlined by his interest in the club’s youngsters, of whom Waghorn is the most outstanding.

“We’re just trying to build a football club,” he said. “On Thursday night I was at a reserve match and our kids were outstanding. We’re just trying to build a football club and maybe I need a reminder every now and again how hard it is and how long it takes.

“This is the start of my third season at the club. I had a three-year plan in my mind when I took over and now it’s probably going to be a bit longer. We’ve brought players in and it takes players time to settle, no matter how good they are.” Waghorn is the 13th member of Keane’s squad out on loan, and the fourth forward. It would have been 14 had not Russell Anderson’s season-long loan at Burnley been cut short by a knee injury. Waghorn’s colleague from the side which reached last season’s FA Youth Cup semi-finals, left-back Michael Liddle, made his debut on loan at Carlisle United on Saturday.

South Shields-born Waghorn signed his first professional contract last summer. He has made only two Premier League starts, but they have come against Manchester United and Chelsea. This month’s Stamford Bridge game was his first senior appearance since a training-ground knee injury in August.

He is set to make his Addicks debut against Sheffield United on Saturday, a game which could feature three Sunderland employees. Greg Halford is on a season-long loan at The Valley, while the Blades have borrowed Anthony Stokes. Charlton are fighting for their

Championship survival after Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at Birmingham City. They are 20th in the table.

Waghorn is due to return for the December 20 game at Hull City. Despite the number of forwards playing away from Wearside, Keane is unlikely to find himself short. He still has the fit-again Kenwyne Jones, Djibril Cissé, Daryl Murphy, El-Hadji Diouf, David Healy and Rade Prica – though he appears lukewarm towards the latter trio, all of whom he signed this year.

Keane believes injuries to key first-teamers have slowed progress.

“We keep talking about players getting used to each other and we’ve had injuries,” he argued. “We’re missing Craig (Gordon) at the moment and George (McCartney), Kenwyne’s only just come back and I don’t think he’s anywhere near match fitness but you can only get that by playing games.

“But when you’re losing football matches, people don’t want to hear that and I understand that. I’m not stupid.”

Keane explained his substitutions in Saturday’s 2-1 win at Blackburn Rovers were more a reflection of Teemu Tainio, Steed Malbranque and Cissé’s fitness than their contribution.

“Teemu’s getting up to match-fitness and he’s missed a lot of games, along with Kenwyne, Craig and George. We haven’t really seen the best of George because he’s been stop-start with injuries and he had an injury in pre-season with West Ham.

“Reidy (Andy Reid, Tainio’s replacement) almost scored with the last kick of the game. That’s the competition.

“Djibril was really tired but he’s not had a minute’s break since he came to the club. He’s not missed any training sessions or games and Steed was tired but he’s played the most minutes and not missed a training session.”