Halford A Winner: Keane

As a Colchester United player, Greg Halford was always used to deifying the odds - during his progression from youth-team captain to flying wing half, it is what he did best.

Now, his latest manger, in the shape of a Premiership footballing legend in Roy Keane has backed him to do it again, and this time at the highest level of English football.

"It`s been a difficult start for Greg but it's been a difficult start for lots of players," admitted Irishman Keane in yesterday`s press on Wearside.

He went on to praise the England U-20, who endured a horrible spell at Reading following a £2.5 million move from Essex in January, as someone with the credentials to make it at the very top.

"I thought Greg showed a good attitude," said Keane, whose refusal to be critical of him in the wake of his red card in Sunland`s recent derby with Newcastle was an ousting feature of a remarkably low-key conference.

"He kept getting in those forward positions, added Keane. "If you want to be a top player, you have to keep getting there and keep having a go and I admire him for that."

Halford comes from a long line of seasoned Premiership pros who were born and bred in Colchester, including Mark Kinsella, Lomana LuaLua and, before them, Perry Groves.

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