Despite his recent suggestion that his injury has affected his form to such an extent that he has contributed to United's problems this season, anyone unlucky enough to witness his team's efforts of late will testify that the exact opposite is true.
While the likes of Juan Sebastian Veron, Laurent Blanc, Fabien Barthez and even David Beckham have struggled to produce the football expected of them at this level, Keane has found himself carrying a burgeoning load of responsibility.
It is not in the captain's nature to shirk: he is one of a rare breed of footballer who rolls up his sleeves and rises further to the challenge.
Sooner rather than later, however, he will need help if United's season is not to collapse completely or if the man himself is not to fall apart under the strain.
Keane's open demeanour was in sharp contrast with the increasingly cantankerous Sir Alex Ferguson - the embodiment of surly hostility yesterday. While Ferguson - bound by UEFA rules to meet the media - growled and hissed his way through a media briefing at United's Carrington training complex, Keane smiled, laughed and shrugged off suggestions that he may be unhappy with the performance of the new arrivals at Old Trafford.
When asked about the form of the much-scrutinised Veron, Keane said: 'I said at the start of the season that our new players should be judged over time.
'I stand by that. The expectations are high when a new player arrives, especially a foreign player. Right now, it's up to the other players in the team to pull us through.'
A useful and articulate diplomat when he wishes to be, Keane's message to supporters yesterday was one top-heavy with positives, not least aimed at dispelling suggestions that his relationship with Ferguson is on the wane.
Having played as an emergency central defender in the 3-0 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday, Keane has told those close to him that he is happy to continue filling in - as long as it does not develop into a season-long solution to a problem that followed Ferguson's sale of Jaap Stam in August.
'I am happy to play anywhere for this team,' vowed Keane last night. 'I can honestly say I have never been happier at this club. I can reassure the supporters that I have never been more settled.
'I would like to think that I could have done a lot better than I did on Saturday. I wasn't happy with my part in Chelsea's second goal, but that's history.
'The spirit among the players is as good as ever but we know that the manager and the coaching staff and the supporters deserve better on the pitch. That is the only place where we can put this right.'
The Stam affair continuesto hang over United and Brian Clough joined the controversy yesterday when he accused Ferguson of 'dropping a clanger' by offloading the Dutchman and replacing him with Blanc.
The former Nottingham Forest manager said: 'I wasn't the only one who raised an eyebrow over that piece of business.
'There is no logical reason in footballing terms why Stam went and a slower Frenchman took his place.'
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