Roy Keane not thinking about return to club management

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 07 November 2017

Roy Keane says that all his focus is on ensuring that Republic of Ireland get to the World Cup finals, amid suggestions that he is in the running for the Sunderland job.

Republic of Ireland assistant boss Roy Keane has insisted that the thought of managing at club level is currently "on the backburner".

The 46-year-old, in his current position alongside Martin O'Neill since November 2013, has previously spent time in charge of Sunderland and Ipswich Town.

Keane has been tipped as an outside candidate for the vacant Black Cats job, while Everton are also looking for a new manager, but he is only focused on helping Ireland reach the World Cup finals next summer.

Speaking ahead of the qualifying playoff double-header against Denmark, he told reporters: "At this moment in time I'm really enjoying what I'm doing with Ireland, working with Martin, the staff and the FAI.

"The only thing on my mind for the next few days is helping to get the team to the World Cup. In terms of club management, all that's on the backburner at the moment. Total mindset and all my energy levels are going to Ireland for the next week or so. That's all I'm focused on."

Keane also had a stint as Aston Villa assistant in 2014, but stepped aside two years ago to concentrate solely on his Ireland job.