FOOTBALL: Keane back Deano for England

6:05pm Thursday 24th April 2008

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Roy Keane says that if former Oxford United midfielder Dean Whitehead can get more goals like the one against Manchester City last week, he could force his way into the England reckoning.

Whitehead scored his first of the season in Sunderland's 2-1 defeat at the Stadium of Light.

And Keane says that Whitehead - who is understood to have impressed Sven-Goran Eriksson - is just getting better and better.

"I watched a video of two years ago against Newcastle, I looked at his positioning and everything then and let me tell you he has improved a hell of a lot," Keane said. "To go to the next level, which he can, he needs to add more of a goal threat."

Having received such a glowing tribute from the Irishman, it represents a massive turnaround given he was expected to have been one of the first players to leave during Keane's earlier days in charge.

It took time for the Sunderland manager to hand the captain's armband to Whitehead, he has had no reason to regret the decision since.

"When I got the job we had one or two captains like Steve Caldwell and I gave it to Dwight Yorke for some matches, but I liked Dean's attitude in training," said Keane. "I spoke to the medical staff who told me Dean was never injured and I had a good feeling about it.

"Different captains have different traits and have different ways of going about things.

"Some would run your social life, the dressing room, everything. He was different and I felt he was what we needed, just by watching him.

"He won't go around ranting at people or bawling, he is good, efficient and you know what you are going to get. The club didn't have that at the time."

Oxford United will receive £50,000 if Whitehead wins an England cap.