Jason McAteer: Roy Keane’s hardman persona just a media act

If the hairdryer has to be administered at half-time in the Aviva tonight, it’s tempting to assume it will come courtesy of Roy Keane.

Not necessarily so, according to former team-mate Jason McAteer. Ireland’s assistant manager is famous for his ferocious temper but McAteer reckons the “hard-man persona” is an act put on for the benefit of the media.

“What you see on the telly when he’s doing press conferences, that’s his character. He’s not like that really,” McAteer said.