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Ben Watson gives honest verdict on Roy Keane’s coaching methods at Nottingham Forest

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Image for Ben Watson gives honest verdict on Roy Keane’s coaching methods at Nottingham Forest

Ben Watson was full of praise for Roy Keane, saying the Nottingham Forest assistant manager has a wealth of valuable experience due to his success as a player and revealed that he doesn’t micromanage the players.

He said to Nottinghamshire Live: “They have both been great and they have been great together. They obviously know each other well. The gaffer lets Roy get on with what he does – and vice versa, I am sure.

“The gaffer has managed at the highest level and has been successful for a number of years. But I am sure it is nice for him to have the person next to him with the knowledge that Roy has, because of what he has done in the game. Together they are very good.

“(Keane) has been great. He has come in and a guy of that stature as a player – he was up there with the best – has just been great to have around the place. He has an input into things and, particularly as a midfielder, you look at what he has done in the game. If he has any bits of advice to give you, then great.

“He does not like to give us loads of information, I don’t think. But it is the little things he tells you just before a game or during a match, that can help you.”

After Aitor Karanka left the club in mid-January, O’Neill made his return to the club he previously played for. Keane, another ex-Forest man, followed the 66-year-old days after and the pair have been trying to get the Reds’ promotion bid back on track.

Forest currently sit eighth in the Championship with 47 points from 33 games this season. They’re coming off the back of two wins and two draws from their last five and face Derby County in an important Midlands derby on Monday. Victory over the Rams could see them halve the deficit to the top-six.

Watson has made 17 appearances in all competitions this season. He was rested against Preston North End but could return on Monday. The 33-year-old has captained Forest in four of their last five games and has been an important player under O’Neill.

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Sports journalist who is an avid football fan, enjoys debunking transfer rumours, loves to write pieces about players out in the cold and takes a large amount of pride getting a predicted XI 100% correct.