Manager Roy Keane has dismissed suggestions made in the wake of last week’s game at Newcastle that he will look to sign his former Manchester United team-mate Nicky Butt. The ex-England midfielder is leaving St James’ Park after six years this summer.
Keane says the veteran midfielder isn’t amongst his four or five targeted players ahead of 2010/11: "I have never spoken about getting Nicky Butt here. He’s a good lad, but I made a point of telling him last week that he should carry on playing.
"He’ll have plenty of options to keep playing up in the Manchester area. There’s about 20 clubs around there and loads of Premiership clubs.
"The type of experience and character that Nicky has would be vital, but to say we’re going to sign Nicky Butt would be way off the mark, I have to say.”