Boss Roy Keane has dismissed a newspaper claim that he isn’t speaking to midfielder Owen Garvan. A report last week claimed Garvan had told friends that Keane is no longer talking to the Irish U21 skipper.

Keane said: “I was speaking to him on Thursday, I spoke to him two weeks ago. I take comments through the media, especially from Ireland, with a pinch of salt.

“It’s not my style to ignore my players, but then again, I certainly don’t have chit-chat with them every day in my office.”

Keane says Garvan is showing the right attitude while he is out of the squad: “Owen’s got to keep his head down. He had an opportunity two weeks ago to go out on loan [to Colchester], he turned it down, but that’s not a problem, that’s his decision. There’s every chance he’ll get his opportunity over the next few weeks.

“I say that to all my players, I judge them by their actions, how they perform day-in, day-out, not on two days a week.

“I know he’s working hard doing extra work with the fitness coaches, which is good to see.”

Keane says that defender Ben Thatcher, who is yet to play since the change of manager in April, has suffered a recurrence of his knee ligament injury: “He had another set back two weeks ago.

“I think it happens with players coming back from injury, he’s had two or three, not major ones but which have put him back another couple of weeks. We hope to have him back on the training pitch next week.”

Keane previously suggested that Thatcher was out of his plans for failing to keep to his rules but now says the former Welsh international will treated the same as any other member of the squad once he is fit: “Like everyone else at the football club he will have his chance. As I keep saying, if they train properly, perform, are on time for training, they’ll have a chance.”

Meanwhile, residents of Aldeburgh have complained of being kept awake by Keane’s dogs’ constant barking.

Labrador Triggs and German Shepherd Izac have upset their new neighbours with one resident telling a national newspaper: "It's ridiculous how they bark. Some residents can't get a wink of sleep."

A council source says the matter is being investigated: "This is a serious complaint and will be looked into. He won't get special treatment."

Photo: Action Images

Dolly2.0 added 09:31 - Oct 17 Apparently his bark's worse than his bite.
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Greektractor added 09:51 - Oct 17 i thought keane lived in rushmere?
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Mungo added 09:51 - Oct 17 Good to hear that Garvan is working hard. This is the only way he is going to be able to force his way back into RK's plans.
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buzbyblue added 10:07 - Oct 17 So it was him I saw walking dogs the other whilst I was working in Aldeburgh
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AJblue added 10:18 - Oct 17 callumgarryskeemer, do you live in Aldeburgh? LOL!!! how are you? havent heard from you in a while.
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SitfcB added 10:18 - Oct 17 Im sure he lives in woodbridge!!
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august10 added 10:18 - Oct 17 I thought it was Rushmere aswell, i'm certain on the area.
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AJblue added 10:26 - Oct 17 Christ doesnt he walk a long way with those dogs.
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bluepeter added 11:55 - Oct 17 I live next door to keano. Tonight I am going to grab keano's dogs and put them in my garden and see how he likes it!
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decers24 added 12:15 - Oct 17 me and bluepeter are a good lil team ;)
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dirtydingusmagee added 12:17 - Oct 17 NICE ONE !
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dirtydingusmagee added 12:25 - Oct 17 kinda think its Keane thats ''barking''.
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heavenlyblue added 12:35 - Oct 17 Yes, but is he barking in Rushmere or Aldburgh!!
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jollyroger added 13:21 - Oct 17 keano deffently lives in Aldburgh near golf course
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WeWereZombies added 14:42 - Oct 17 Now there are these things called 'Dog Training Classes' where you can take your dogs and be advised and instructed on how to have your dogs behave well. Of course, if you ignore the availability of such resources, choose not to take good advice or do not believe in good training delivered in a manner traditional to the area in which you live it may appear that you have erratically performing and poorly trained charges. Thus will you be looked down upon by your neighbours and disappoint those who expect more of you.

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Mark added 18:32 - Oct 17 Maybe a bit of chit-chat would be good? Keane said he is not here to make friends, but isn't it better to be on good terms with everyone and get them to play for you?
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kentblue added 19:12 - Oct 17 RK should just GO ! "I don't have chit chat with them every day " . It is the job of the manager to be approachable , to encourage , to motivate and bring out the best in players . Keane is failing on all accounts . He is just a moody , sullen man who is a destroyer not a team builder. I 'm looking froward to his departure ! Garan has such potential and could flourish under different management as could a number of other players .

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jonnysuave added 19:33 - Oct 17 I have been trying to think of a successful Irish manager and I can't. Billy Bingham did OK but he was from the North. Jackie was the national teams best and he was an Englishman. We need a scotsman
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zebra added 23:32 - Oct 17 Hi, You're all correct - he has a house near the training ground near Rushmere AND he is having a house built near Aldeburgh - so I'm told. Now 'why' he is doing that is another question. Surely he must know that, as Marcus Evans has totally destroyed the lovely old Ipswich ethos of the only crisis is when the boardroom has run out of white wine, his days are numbered. However, who would take his place? A scotsman, jonnysuave? Johnny Wark, Alan Brazil, George Burley [sorry - haven't we been there before?]. There's a chap who is in the market place in Stowmarket on Thursdays who, I reckon, could do a better job than Mr Keane. But there you go ...................

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Back_The_Boss added 13:34 - Oct 18 What about what dog he is going to buy next!
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bluepeter added 17:03 - Oct 18 yes jollyroger and all the balls end up in his garden because de fence is useless!!!!!!!!!!!!
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