Sunderland Football Club News

• Nickname:Black Cats
• Founded:1879
• Manager:Martin O'Neill

• Ground:Stadium of light
• Capacity:48,353

Keane calls for Kieran chance

12 Nov 2008 - 14:27:23

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Sunderland manager Roy Keane has called for Kieran Richardson to be included in the next England squad.

Richardson, 24, has been in eye-catching form for the Black Cats this season and Keane believes he is returning to the level that first earned him an England call-up for the tour to the US at the end of the 2004-05 season.

The then Manchester United youngster made an instant impression on the international stage after scoring twice against the USA on his debut.

The former England Under-21 international has won eight full caps under the reigns of Sven-Goran Eriksson and Steve McClaren, but Keane believes he is now ready for a call-up to Fabio Capello's squad for next week's friendly against Germany.

"Kieran is climbing back to the level he was at three or four years ago and that was a time when he was an England player," he said.

"He was the main man out in the USA when he scored two goals.

"There is no doubt in my mind that he can get back into the national team."