Players are in for a ‘pleasant surprise’

Roy Keane is ready to confound expectations as the new assistant manager of Ireland. Acutely conscious that he has a reputation as an Edward Hyde, Keane is hoping the Irish squad responds positively to his lesser-known Henry Jekyll.

“Hopefully, the players are in for a pleasant surprise, particularly the lads who’ve not worked with me,” he said, after concluding his main press conference in Malahide yesterday.

“I know people can believe what they hear and read and, if they’re thinking for some reason that some monster’s going to turn up and, all of a sudden, I’m quite placid and nice to them, I think that will help me.”