FAI CHIEF EXECUTIVE John Delaney insisted that Roy Keane is “100% committed” to his Ireland job following speculation linking the Corkman with a shock return to Manchester United.

Delaney dismissed reports that Louis van Gaal, the number one candidate to replace the sacked David Moyes, wants to bring Keane back to Old Trafford as his assistant.

If van Gaal gets the job, it would most likely leave Keane facing a tough call between club and country. Both he and manager Martin O’Neill are contracted with the FAI for the duration of the Euro 2016 campaign, which begins this autumn.

“There’s lots of speculation about who is going to manage Manchester United and what players are going to be involved,” Delaney told Jonathan Healy on Newstalk’s Lunchtime.

“I don’t think there’s anything in that. Roy has given his commitment to be assistant manager to Martin and to work for the FAI.

“There’s been speculation about him in many jobs since he took the role with us but, no I don’t think there’s anything in that.

Roy’s 100% commitment is being the assistant manager with the Republic of Ireland team.

O’Neill and Keane were linked earlier this year with a return to former club Nottingham Forest but it couldn’t tempt Ireland’s managerial dream team.

Delaney added: “I don’t expect Roy Keane or Martin O’Neill to go anywhere. Both of them are committed to managing Ireland.

“They’ve gone about their role with a great work ethic, attending almost 100 games between the backroom staff.

“I know that their sole purpose, both Martin and Roy, is to manage Ireland and get to the European Championships in 2016.”

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