Keane: I’m sure a lot of the Irish squad don’t like me...that’s fine

ROY KEANE suspects that some of the Ireland squad do not like him very much. Not that he cares, he would be disappointed if he was popular.

Points not pals are the aim of the game for the assistant manager and three more in Dublin against Austria tonight would set them well on their way to next summer’s World Cup finals in Russia.

Keane said: ‘Sometimes you try and help players out, whether it be you have a go at them, sometimes you give them a pat on the back or sometimes leave them alone.

‘You’ve got to get that balance right with the players. Obviously the manager is brilliant at it. The key is trying to know different personalities.

‘I’m pretty sure a lot of the players probably don’t particularly like me, so I would keep my distance from them.

‘When we work, we work and when we’re off, we stay away from each other.’ REP OF IRELAND (4-2-3-1): Westwood; Christie, Keogh, Duffy, Ward; Arter, Whelan; Brady, Hendrick, McClean; Walters.