All that Roy Keane would need to be a success at Celtic is time, according to former Sunderland and Ipswich Town winger Carlos Edwards.
With rumours swirling around the former Celtic midfielder potentially taking charge of the club, Edwards, a former player of Keane's on the two occasions he has been a manager, has been publicly backing the Cork native's credentials for a head-to-head battle with Steven Gerrard's Rangers.
"If Roy gets the job, give him time, that’s all he needs to be successful," believes Edwards. “He would get the backing of the fans there.
"He’s been out of management for a long time, but I don’t think it would be a concern because he is a football man. He knows the ins and outs, he’s played at the highest level.
"Roy Keane vs Steven Gerrard, who had battles with each other for Manchester United and Liverpool, that would send shockwaves through Scottish football."
Speaking to talkSport on Tuesday, Edwards, who was signed by Keane for Sunderland midway through the Championship-winning season of 2006/07, did address the Irishman's harsh reputation.
"I got a few bollockings for messing up in games and causing a few goals," he admitted, "but I never got the brunt of it.
"Roy had his moments when he let a few steams out, which is understandable. He went overboard at times, but as a player you had to sometimes take it on the chin and just try to move on.
"In my career with him, I never saw him physically go at anyone, but words can hurt a lot. There were times he could have dealt with things in a different way."
After winning nine successive Scottish titles, Celtic's quest for the elusive 10th fell someway short this season as Neil Lennon's men were roundly beaten by Gerrard's Rangers.
Nevertheless, with time Carlos Edwards believes that Roy Keane could redress this imbalance.
"Everybody had to be on their A-game when it came to him," recalled the Trinidadian of playing for Keane, "not just in games, but in training, in the way you carry yourself.
"Roy was very hard to read. He had a good pokerface. I always say to people what you see on the television with Roy is exactly the way he is in person.
"He’s not changing for anyone. He will tell you it as it is and go about his business."
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