From The Independent:
Roy Keane's return to international football was last night plunged into confusion after Sir Alex Ferguson claimed the midfielder would only be available for certain matches.
His statement ran contrary to the insistence of the Republic of Ireland's manager, Brian Kerr, that Keane had made himself available with "immediate effect" and with no strings attached almost two years after he stormed out of the World Cup.
Ferguson's comments highlight the rift between the Manchester United manager and his captain 33 in August and with a savage history of injuries over the issue. The manager is said, according to sources, to have had "heated discussions" with Keane and intimated that a return would severely curtail his Old Trafford career.
Last night Ferguson was conciliatory. He said: "I am pleased for Roy because it was important for him and his family to put to bed something that has been simmering away for a long time.
"There has been dialogue between Roy and Brian Kerr for a little while which I was party to. Roy then spoke to me and I am happy with his decision.
"It may be the thing that will drive him on for the next two years. I think he will only play the five competitive games each season and Ireland will obviously get the benefit of that."
That is clearly not Kerr's understanding. He has held an open dialogue with Keane for months but has insisted that he cannot pick and choose matches.
The issue will soon be tested. The Irish are due to play a friendly against Poland in the town of Bydgoszcz, 150 miles north of Warsaw on 28 April. The meaningless fixture is sandwiched between United's league games with Liverpool and Blackburn. Kerr is due to announce his squad next week and, possibly, the only way to save Keane the journey would be to choose an experimental squad and leave out other leading names, such as Damien Duff, out as well.