Back page Perth Glory striker Andy Keogh remains committed to the club following a week of speculation about his future in the Australian media.
The 32-year-old is in fine form for the West Australian side who sit top of the A-League ladder after 12 rounds, contributing seven goals to the cause.
With his existing deal set to expire at the end of the current season, Keogh has attracted interest from other clubs in the competition.
A swap deal with Melbourne City marquee Bruno Fornaroli has been the subject of a number of stories over the past week but the Irishman insists that he wants to stay in Perth.
“I see my future here, I’m settled in Perth with my family and have enjoyed my time in WA over the past four-and-a-half years,” he said.
“I’m close to finalising my Australian citizenship and have built up a good relationship with the passionate fans who have always been great to me through the good and the bad.
“They’re also my harshest critics which is great because it pushes me to perform even better.”
The Fornaroli deal was initiated by Melbourne City and their coach Warren Joyce who worked with Keogh, capped 30 times by the Republic of Ireland, when the pair were at Leeds United.
Joyce has fallen out with his Uruguayan striker, confining him to the stands for the past couple of months, and is keen to bring in a replacement.
However, Perth Glory are believed to have balked at paying Fornaroli’s marquee wages, in part due to the 31-year-old’s injury problems over the past two years – he missed most of the 2017/18 campaign with an ankle problem.
Glory have had a heavy schedule over the New Year period, including three games in eight days, and Keogh was on the bench for Wednesday night’s win over Sydney FC.
This added fuel to the fire in terms of where his future lies, but coach Tony Popovic rotated five other players in his starting line up and Keogh entered the pitch on 64 minutes.
“I’m in form at the moment, enjoying my football and loving the new regime under Tony Popovic,” said Keogh, who is Glory’s vice captain.
“The team has been performing consistently and I’m happy to have contributed more to that this season, long may it continue.”
Keogh is Glory’s all-time leading goalscorer in the A-League era with 47 goals in 106 appearances during his two spells at the club and is one of only a handful of players to have cracked the century in games played.
“After a tough couple of seasons, we have a tight-knit group with a great spirit and it’s something that I want to remain part of,” he said.
“We have a great chance to pick up some silverware this year which I know that the fans and the club would love and that’s my only focus right now.”
Perth Glory, who sit six points clear of second placed Melbourne Victory, return to A-League action on Sunday when they host Western Sydney Wanderers at HBF Park, and Keogh has been included in the 18-man squad.
