Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia
United Arab Emirates

Wright in stitches at Keane joke after future son-in-law scores against Ireland

talksport.com, 17 November 2024, 19:59
A penny for Roy Keane's reaction when Taylor Harwood-Bellis nodded home on his England debut against the Republic of Ireland.

Harwood-Bellis came on in the 62nd minute in place of Kyle Walker but did not wait long to make his mark.

The Southampton defender rose highest to get on the end of an inviting ball from Jude Bellingham at the back post and head it past a despairing Caoimhin Kelleher.

Harwood-Bellis' goal was England's fifth and final goal of their emphatic result over a ten-man Ireland that secured the Three Lions' return to League A in the Nations League.

Keane, who won 67 caps for Ireland during his glittering playing career, was keenly invested in Harwood-Bellis' performance given the Saints star is his future son-in-law.

Harwood-Bellis got engaged to Keane's daughter, Leah, earlier this year.

Read more football news

Two England stars get 9/10 ratings as Saka warned he has 'serious competition'

England create history as they hit FIVE goals against Ireland in Nations League

So when the centre-back sent his header past Kelleher, it left Keane somewhat torn.

The Cork native also served up a hilarious response when asked what it meant for Harwood-Bellis and his daughter's future together.

"Bittersweet to me," Keane said when asked of his thoughts on Harwood-Bellis' goal.

When it was pointed out not everyone knew the relation between Harwood-Bellis and Keane, the Manchester United great said: "It's not done and dusted yet. Things can change quickly in the Keane household."

Most read in Football

Poland captain refuses to apologise for controversial Cristiano Ronaldo photo

Harry Kane statue hidden away for five years finally unveiled - and fans are in disbelief

Antonio and League One player forced to miss Jamaica's game with USA for bizarre reason

England legend 'bewildered' by Thomas Tuchel holiday decision

Keane's remark left fellow pundit Ian Wright, and no doubt many viewers watching across the country, in stitches.

Although Keane did add that he should be able to get over Harwood-Bellis' goal, adding: "It's good for him to make his debut, he's a bit of a goal threat. He's a nice kid, his family have done a really great job. Really nice kid."

Harwood-Bellis and Keane will no doubt have a debrief after the game, as the former opened up on what it's like to be the future son-in-law of a footballing icon prior to the Greece fixture.

"It's something that is good, yes, and I take a lot of advice," Harwood-Bellis said.

Harwood-Bellis was one of eight stars handed their senior England debuts by interim boss Lee Carsley during his six-game stint in charge.

Morgan Rogers, Tino Livramento, Morgan Gibbs-White, Lewis Hall, Curtis Jones, Noni Madueke and Angel Gomes were all trusted to perform for the Three Lions by Carsley.

None of the fresh faces did anything to harm their chances of future England call-ups either as all eyes begin to turn towards the 2026 World Cup.

What is most notable about those handed their debut by Carsley is that they are all aged 24 or under.

According to Carsley, the main logic behind so many stars earning their first caps was to give incoming England boss Thomas Tuchel more options to choose from when the March international window arrives.

"What we have tried to do is increase the amount of players available to Thomas," Carsley said.

"It feels like the fans are really connected with the team. They like the fact that it looks younger, it looks energetic, it looks fresh."

Show more

Top News

24 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea will reportedly have to pay a penalty price of £5m if they renege on their obligation to sign Jadon Sancho in the summer transfer window. 24 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly braced for competition from Tottenham Hotspur for the signature of Sunderland's Chris Rigg. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Virgil Van Dijk has reportedly decided to end his time at Liverpool, with Paris Saint-Germain touted as a likely destination. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Virgil Van Dijk has reportedly decided to end his time at Liverpool, with Paris Saint-Germain touted as a likely destination. 23 March 2025 talksport.com Chelsea must pay Manchester United £5million if they don't sign Jadon Sancho on a permanent deal this summer, talkSPORT understands. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk France dramatically completed a terrific UEFA Nations League comeback over Croatia as they reached the semi-finals with a 5-4 penalty-shootout win following a 2-0 quarter-final second-leg victory and 2-2 aggregate draw at the Stade de France. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Portugal advanced into the UEFA Nations League semi-finals after beating Denmark 5-2 in the second leg at home on Sunday night, winning 5-3 on aggregate after extra time. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Spain booked their spot in the semi-finals of the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League courtesy of a penalty-shootout success over the Netherlands on Sunday night, with the two teams finally being separated after two blockbuster contests. 23 March 2025 talksport.com Michael Owen has revealed the formation he would have gone with to unlock the best of England's Golden Generation. 23 March 2025 talksport.com Phil Parkinson says win, lose or draw, Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have his back. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Julian Nagelsmann's Germany scraped into the semi-final of the UEFA Nations League after drawing 3-3 in a dramatic quarter-final second leg against Italy at Signal Iduna Park on Sunday night. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Egypt will aim to make it back-to-back wins in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers when they welcome Sierra Leone to the Cairo International Stadium on Tuesday for a matchday six encounter. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk In-form Ecuador will make the trip to Santiago to face Chile in World Cup qualifying on Tuesday knowing they are within touching distance of reaching the finals. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Everton have reportedly identified Genoa centre-back Koni De Winter as a potential replacement for Manchester United-linked Jarrad Branthwaite. 23 March 2025 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo was denied from the penalty spot just six minutes into Portugal's crucial Nations League clash with Denmark. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool's Alisson Becker, Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhaes and Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes will all drop out of the Brazil starting lineup for Tuesday's World Cup 2026 qualifying clash against rivals Argentina. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Argentina midfielder Rodrigo De Paul is pushing to start Tuesday's World Cup 2026 qualifying clash against Brazil in Buenos Aires. 23 March 2025 talksport.com Edin Dzeko has shown off the brutal facial injury he suffered playing for Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday. 23 March 2025 talksport.com Mohamed Salah wants to stay at Liverpool even though he hasn't yet agreed a new deal. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Argentina will look to officially secure their place at World Cup 2026 when they face rivals Brazil in Tuesday's clash at Estadio Mas Monumental in Buenos Aires. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Morocco will look to continue their impressive start to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers when they host Tanzania at Stade Municipal on Tuesday. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Republic of Ireland and Bulgaria have announced their starting lineups for Sunday's fixture in the UEFA Nations League. 23 March 2025 talksport.com It's almost been eight years since Andrea Pirlo retired from football, but he hasn't lost his world-class free-kick abilities. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United have suffered a blow in their pursuit of Malaga's teenage winger Antonio Cordero ahead of the summer transfer window. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have reportedly set their asking price for Ferran Torres, with the versatile attacker expected to be on the move during this summer's transfer window. 23 March 2025 talksport.com Steve Bruce has passionately responded to Dwight Gayle after he claimed he 'didn't do tactics' when in charge of Newcastle. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid have reportedly been offered the chance to sign Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji this summer. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Luka Modric has revealed that he is yet to speak with Real Madrid over his future beyond the end of the campaign. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Flash back to the first few months of Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham Hotspur reign, where the Australian took a marvellous 26 Premier League points from 30 on offer, the most by any head coach in their first 10 matches in the competition. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane is reportedly giving serious consideration to returning to the Premier League during this summer's transfer window, with Liverpool said to be his preferred destination.