High Praise For Sunderland Manager

Blackburn Rovers manager Paul Ince comes head-to-head with his old friend Roy Keane on Wednesday when Rovers face Sunderland in the Carling Cup.

Ince is reunited with his former Manchester United team-mate when Rovers go to the Stadium of Light in the Carling Cup, and he couldn't have enough praise for Keane. Incey isn't surprised that Keane moved into management, and nor will he be surprised to see him turn around the Black Cats fortunes (with them currently in the bottom three in the Premier League), something he feels he will do.

Ince told Sky Sports: "I am not surprised Roy went into management. We had a great partnership at United. He was a fantastic player and we had some good times together. He was always a leader of men.

"I wish him all the success in the world. He is a young manager learning his trade, just like me.

"He has spent a few quid at Sunderland and it is still a struggle for him. It just shows you how competitive the league is.

"But he needs time as he is trying to build something there. He will need three or four years to get to where he wants. We want to be in the same boat."

When Incey was cutting his teeth in management (player/manager at Macclesfield Town) with his side rock bottom of the Football League the encouragement never stopped coming from Keane, and this is something that was appreciated and repaid. A remarkable relegation escape was eventually seen at Macclesfield.

He added: "When I was at Macclesfield and we were the 92nd team in the league, he was the one who was always ringing me up and texting me, saying, 'Good luck, I hope you get a result'.

"I repaid that favour when he was in the Championship with Sunderland, so we've had that relationship for years."

Incey clearly has a lot of respect for his old friend Keane, but when the two come face-to-face tomorrow night friendship will be put aside for 90 minutes, or however long the match lasts for!!!


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