"One of Roy's strengths is that he gives it to you straight. Sometimes too straight"

Paul McGrath has commented in Hot Press on the furore surrounding Roy Keane’s revelations in Keane, his autobiography, which went on sale Monday.

"The Roy Keane I know," writes McGrath, "is a quiet, well-mannered bloke who enjoys going out for a meal and having a laugh. I do see him being interviewed sometimes and think, ‘Come on mate, lighten up’, but to me he’s a good friend who I’ve known and got on with since he came into the Irish squad.

"One of Roy’s strengths is that he gives it to you straight – sometimes too straight!"

On the infamous incident involving Man City midfielder Alf Inge Haaland, McGrath adds, "I’m still shocked that he’s said what he’s said. Roy was very badly advised in that regard, and as a consequence is going to have the book thrown at him by the Football Association. He’ll be lucky to escape with a match ban."

McGrath also disagrees with Keane’s assessment of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy.

"My opinion on McCarthy would be a lot different to Roy’s," says McGrath. "I enjoyed his company because he had great wit and he made you laugh."

Interestingly, McGrath also questions the accuracy of ghostwriter Eamon Dunphy’s prose:

"There’s a lot of Eamon in the extracts I’ve read," asserts Paul. "Especially in the use of ‘fuck’ every second word, which isn’t how Roy talks."

Read more from Paul on Roy, as well as McGrath on the threats made against Neil Lennon - "Bill Shankly was wrong about there being nothing more important than football" - in the latest issue of Hot Press, on nationwide newsstands today.