Chimbonda switched on to his Cats’ duties

10:27am Saturday 22nd November 2008

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PASCAL Chimbonda helped turn on the Christmas lights in Sunderland city centre this week, and Roy Keane hopes a recent spell out of the squad proves to be an illuminating lesson for the errant rightback.

The former Spurs defender has failed to even make the Black Cats’ bench in recent weeks sparking rumours Keane had dropped the Frenchman following poor time-keeping and attitude.

Chimbonda’s appearance in Sunderland reserves’ 4-0 victory over Blackburn in midweek was the first step towards him earning a first team recall.

Keane said: “Pascal was doing his bit for the club last night. He turned the lights on.

It is part of being a footballer.

You do a bit for the community, for your team-mates. And he was on time, which is good.

“He has to train well, be on time, show good attitude to the club, to me, the girls in the canteen, the staff, the team, the kit man, all round the football club. It is the whole package.

Every day the players get a chance to impress me. “ Chimbonda need only look toward the likes of Anthony Stokes or Liam Miller – both reprimanded for slack timekeeping – for evidence of Keane’s zero-tolerance approach when is comes to poor professionalism.

Similarly, Nigel Worthington’s comments that members of his Northern Ireland squad, including Sunderland striker David Healy, were not fit enough to compete in their midweek international fixture is something Keane feels should make players feel ashamed.

“That’s a major insult to players. No one should throw that at you, that must hurt players. They can be fitter, they can stay behind more, get their body fat down, lead a better life away from football.,”

he said.

“We can criticise players for lack of technical ability but for people to throw at them that they’re not fully fit, that would be difficult to take.”

And he offered a stark message to his fringe players.

“Get yourselves fitter and you might get into the team,”

Keane said.

“You can provide everything for them, fitness coaches, food, right hotels, but you can’t follow them when they leave your training ground. They can still be fitter, swimming, doing extra, getting your body fat down.

They’ve got to be able to sprint for 90 minutes – you can’t be tired after 45 minutes.”

On Sunday, Keane faces West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola whose skill and bubbly personality as a player, almost saved the Italian from being a target of Keane’s infamous tough tackling.

“Even as a player you didn’t want to kick him, you had to so I did but not with intention of hurting him before the game. He played the game in the right way. But on the law of averages, I must have kicked him,” he said.

“Other lads from Chelsea were higher up the list! He wasn’t in my black book. He played the game well in brilliant spirit.”

As Sunderland prepare to face a Hammers team who’ve failed to win their last seven matches, Keane believes Zola will confound the critics.

Keane said: “He will be fine as a manager.

“People talk about pressure but he will deal with it.

“He’ll bring some great thoughts and ideas to that club. And I’m looking forward to having a chat after the game. But it’s not all craic like you think it is, not a pals act.”

Keane’s, former Republic of Ireland colleague Phil Babb, joined in the recent debate over whether the Sunderland manager had quit the club.

The Black Cats’ boss viewed the matter with contempt.

“Jesus Christ. If I start losing sleep over Phil Babb I am in trouble,” said Keane.

“Three years ago Phil Babb was in trouble jumping on cars in Dublin. I was captain of Ireland at the time. He was getting ripped to bits.

“I was doing the media on the Monday and I said what is the big deal. Give the lad a break. He didn’t murder anyone, rape anyone. Babbsy is prone to coming up with all sorts of stuff. He is paid by Sky or whatever.”

■ Winger Carlos Edwards’ return from a loan spell with Wolves brings width to Sunderland’s right flank.

“The whole point of Carlos going out on loan was to get some games under his belt and he’s had five or six games at Wolves and the international match this week,” confirmed Keane.

“I felt with the games coming up particularly with Kenwyne back, that Carlos gives us good options and he’s back in the squad for Sunday.”