“No bad stories.”
Roy Keane was quick to get in the warning to his former Manchester United colleague Tom Heaton after the 36-year-old joined the Sky Sports panel for a wee post-match chat.
Heaton was drafted in for his second game of the season, as United beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 [5-0 on aggregate] to reach the League Cup Final. It was the veteran stopper’s third United appearance since he rejoined his first top-flight club in the summer of 2021.
Heaton played youth level with Wrexham but joined United as a trainee in 2002. As a youth and reserve team player, he crossed paths with Keane, who was senior team captain, several times. The pair shared a couple of jokes with each other, on the Old Trafford sideline, before the interview began.
Keane, as is his wont, was not going easy on the goalkeeper even though he kept a clean sheet and made a couple of good stops. On Heaton’s late save against Danilo, Keane – with a glint in his eye – remarked that ‘it was straight at you’.
Michael Dawson, who was on punditry duty with Keane, took it a step further and asked Heaton if he felt, at 36 and with David De Gea looking back to his best, if he felt his chance at starting for United had passed. As Dawson made the comment, Keane pulled a face and shot looks at the United goalkeeper and host Mark Chapman.
“We’ve had a go at his goalkeeping, we’ve told him he’s too old,” Chapman joked.
“No, you’re right Daws,” said Tom Heaton. “I spent a lot of time here as a kid and had a lot of good times here. I think my frustration was in not playing and that was part of it. I went away [in 2010] and played in a few different places but to get the opportunity to come back… obviously, I wasn’t coming back to be part of the furniture.
“I still have that hunger and drive to get into the team. As soon as I lose that , that’ll be it for me. I still have huge ambitions to play, at the minute. I’ve been patient and waited for my opportunities. But I understand what you’re saying.”
“As soon as you lose that,” remarked Dawson, “you’ll be stood with me and Roy here. Instead of Roy, maybe.”
Keane’s face said he was not buying that line either.
🗣 "I've been patiently waiting for the opportunity and hopefully I keep that moving forward."
Tom Heaton reflects on his return to Manchester United and his ambitions pic.twitter.com/fqFvG7Gtg5
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) February 1, 2023
Tom Heaton on United atmosphere
Tom Heaton said Erik ten Hag and his coaching staff are eager to get Old Trafford ‘back to a fortress’ and that is ringing through – they have won 12 games in a row at home. The goalkeeper also praised the Dutchman for engendering ‘a really good atmosphere’ in the squad.
As for Keane, he Cork native was in fine form throughout as he made wry observations and shared jokes with Chapman and Dawson.
Referring to the Manchester United final against Newcastle United, Roy Keane said, “I never had much time for them.”
Related links:
- Roy Keane flatly rejects longstanding perception of ex-Man United midfielder Paul Ince
- Jaden Sancho can’t hide his smile as Old Trafford give heartwarming reception
- Roy Keane on Man United’s two most improved players since Ronaldo left
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