Sir Alex Ferguson wants captain Roy Keane to stay at Old Trafford for another five seasons.

Keane has just returned to the first team after recovering from a hip operation which had kept him on the sidelines for four months.

In his absence there were reports that he was about to be stripped of his captaincy and that his future at the club was no longer certain.

But Ferguson said: "We would like to see another five years from Roy and he is capable of doing that.

"He needs a bit of luck with injuries but he is a fit lad and looks after himself so well.

Roy has his way and I don't really want to see him change Sir Alex Ferguson

"When you get to your 30s you do tailor your game a bit differently, every player has done that and I think we will see Roy change a little bit."

Keane had previously revealed his desire to finish his playing career at Scottish champions Celtic.

But the chance of winning European glory (he missed out on United's 1999 Champions League success), could see him hang up his boots at Old Trafford.

And Ferguson is confident he can keep the influential 31-year-old at the club until the end of the 2007/8 season.

He said: "Roy has this incredible dynamo inside him. He can play anywhere he wants - defence, midfield or attack - because he has got something others have not.

"He has a great knowledge of the game and has the energy, enthusiasm and drive to play anywhere.

"I think the area where Roy is maybe trying to change himself is how he can play in a role which will control the team better."

Ferguson delight

Keane's time at Manchester United has been blighted by controversy.

He recently received a ban after claiming in his autobiography that he deliberately set out to hurt Manchester City's Alfe Inge Haaland.

But Ferguson is adamant he does not want his club captain to change his aggressive ways.

"All good teams have different personalities and characters in them who do things in different ways," said the Scot.

"Roy has his way and I don't really want to see him change. We are delighted to have him back."