Keane: Reds are a machine

Birthday boy Roy Keane has predicted United will retain the Barclays Premier League title.

The Irishman, who turned 40 on Wednesday, spoke to The Sun after appearing in a charity game at Parkhead to raise funds to fight poverty in East Africa.

It is clear the former Reds skipper believes Sir Alex once again has the strongest squad at his disposal.

"Even Sir Alex Ferguson said the other day the league's getting tougher," said Keane. "But I don't think so.

"If United are really at it, which they will be, they'll win it comfortably. Even last year when United were slipping up, no team was strong enough to take advantage of it.

"United have bought well. People talk about losing experience and I appreciate that [Edwin] van der Sar, [Gary] Neville and [Paul] Scholes have all retired. But they have good young players coming through - and Wayne Rooney can play better than he did last season.

"When you look at the players they have left behind, they have [Nemanja] Vidic, Rio [Ferdinand], Darren Fletcher - these are all international players. And Giggsy is still there, too. United don't let players go unless they know they have players coming through to replace them.

"Ashley Young and Phil Jones are good players, Chris Smalling is coming through and Danny Welbeck is a good player coming back after being on loan at Sunderland last season.

"And when the older lads come to the end in four or five years, you'll have the likes of Jones and Smalling to step in with five or six years' experience behind them. It's like a machine. You can talk all you like about other teams getting stronger but, for me, United have got stronger as well.

"They're going to do the business. Of all the teams, if one has the balance right, I believe it's United."