No 'cuddles' for dropped players, insists Keane
Sunderland boss Roy Keane has warned his players not to expect an arm around their shoulders if they are not in the team.
Keane insists there is little room for sentiment in football and that only performances on the pitch and the training ground will guarantee places in his team.
Keane and his players head into Sunday's derby trip to Newcastle still needing points to mathematically end their fears of being dragged into the fight for Premier League survival.
The manager will select his players from what he sees on the training pitch in the days leading up to the game, and admits he is not one for soothing the bruised egos of those who do not make it.
He said: "We have done it once or twice, but I am not one for having a one-to-one in my office and a nice little cuddle in the corner.
"I just say, 'I will judge you on what you do on the training pitch and what you do in the games', and the players appreciate that.
"They know where they stand, there are no grey areas. I say to the players all the time, 'I will judge what I see with my eyes, not what I hear from you or your agent'.
Qualms
"I am sure I will continue to do that. I wouldn't be a great one for sitting down with the players and having too many long chats."
Keane has had few qualms about making changes throughout his reign on Wearside.
By the same token, he has left his players in little doubt that missing out one week does not necessarily mean they cannot fight their way back into his plans, and defender Danny Collins is living proof of that.
The 27-year-old Wales international lost his place earlier in the season, but has since returned and has started 20 of the last 21 games, with only suspension spoiling his record.
Keane said: "I say to every player, 'If you train properly and you answer me on the training pitch and in the games, you don't need to be coming to see me in the office'.
"When players are left out, listen, you don't need to tell me they are grumpy. I know that, I know they are unhappy about it. No player likes to be left out.
"But they have to answer me in the best way, and that's by training properly, and Danny trains like he plays in games. He is very enthusiastic.''
- Damian Spellman
