Roy Keane

v

Paul Ince

Manchester United

Club

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Midfield

Position

Midfield

32

Age

35

5' 11''

Height

5'10''

12st

Weight

12st 2

Cork, Ireland

Home Town

Ilford, Essex

58 for Ireland

International Caps

53 for England

9

International Goals

2

 

Career Trails

CobhRamblers: Aug 89 - June 90
Nottingham Forest: June 90 - July 93
Manchester United: July 93 - Present

West Ham United: July 85 - Sept 89
Manchester United: Sept 89 - June 95
Internazionale: June 95 - July 97
Liverpool: July 97 - July 99
Middlesbrough: July 99 - Aug 02
Wolves: Aug 02 - Present

 

Medals

FA Premier League: 94, 96, 97, 99, 2000, 01, 03
FA Cup: 94, 96, 99
UEFA Champions League: 99
FA Community Shield: 93, 96, 97, 2003
Intercontinental Cup: 99

FA Premier League: 93, 94
FA Cup: 90, 94
FA Community Shield: 90, 93, 94,
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 91
European Super Cup: 92
Football League Cup: 92
First Division Play-off: 2003

   

Styles

One of Europe's toughest midfielders, Keane's sole focus is winning - and he's done plenty of that. A player with immense power and influence over his team and their opponents, the Irishman is an inspirational leader. Offering his team extra assurance protecting the defence with his strong tackling, he is equally as effective with his skills on the ball and his creative passing while adding even more to the package with his runs into the box in support of the forwards.

Another midfielder with a hard-man image who thrives on competition. Famed for his guv'nor tag, Ince is a no mess ball-winner who likes to remind his rivals who is boss.  An extremely passionate player who never stops talking on the field and leads his team by example.  Age is slowly creeping up on him and he now adopts a more controlled approach protecting his defence and limiting his adventures forward.  Still knows where the net is though.

   

Form Guides

A perfect start to the season with two League victories following The Community Shield win over Arsenal.  United have lost only twice since the pre-season campaign started, and in both of those matches - against Sporting Lisbon and Stoke - Keane was absent.

A disappointing introduction to life in the Premiership, experienced Ince was unable to lift Wolves from an opening day defeat against Blackburn and their second match against Charlton - the first ever Premier League action at Molineux - ended in another drubbing, this time four first half goals were too much for Dave Jones' men.

High

The Treble.  United already had the League and The FA Cup in the bag when they arrived in Barcelona for the Champions League final.  Though Keane missed the match through suspension, his team mates came from behind to beat Bayern Munich and it was Mission Accomplished for the captain as his team won everything.

Having left Inter just three months earlier, Ince returned to the Italy's capital as England faced the Azzurri in the final qualifier for France '98.  Needing just a point to take top spot in Group 2, an Ince-inspired Three Lions fought hard for a 0-0 draw which handed them a place at the World Cup finals and gave the Liverpool midfielder some cleaning-up work on a head wound.

   

Low

Not playing in Barcelona.  After a colossal performance - and goal - in the semi final at Juventus that guide United through - his yellow card added to another picked up against Inter forced him out of the final

An awesome performance for 10-man England in St Etienne was almost enough to send the Three Lions past Argentina, but his penalty miss during the shootout after the match finished 2-2 meant that England were out of France '98 

   

How will it go?

It would take a very silly person to bet against United tonight, but having said that, it would take another one to pay out before Ferguson's boys have won.  Wolves, and in particular Ince, will be up for the match which was probably the first they looked out for when the fixtures were published. Will need a super-human effort if they are to pick up their first Premiership points and with the goals going in at the rate of one every 20 minutes, the home side will fancy making it even worse.  Upsets have occurred at the Theatre of Dreams, but Wolves must not be overawed by the occasion...


Jamie Bradbury