‘No gag on Roy, I’m not his dad’

Martin O’Neill will not be taking Roy Keane aside for a quiet word – much less a loud one – before the Corkman makes his eagerly anticipated media debut as Ireland’s assistant manager this afternoon.

Speaking after overseeing his first training session with the squad yesterday, O’Neill reacted with something approaching astonishment to the suggestion that he might be tempted to prep, advise or otherwise interfere with Keane’s well-practised freedom of expression.

“I am going to try and clear something up here,” O’Neill said. “I am not Roy’s father, absolutely not. He can look after himself, he can say what he wants.