JAMES MCCLEAN has revealed he received an extraordinary X-rated tirade from Roy Keane.
A poor performance against Mexico saw Manchester United legend Keane, now 55, unleash his wrath on the former Ireland captain.
McClean, 37, has explained that a meeting with Irish boxer Mick Conlan before the New Jersey match created a sour atmosphere with the then-assistant manager.
The winger was among several players featuring out of position as Keane’s half-time explosion epitomised Ireland’s 3-1 loss in a friendly in June 2017.
Writing in his autobiography The Walls, as serialised by the Irish Independent, McClean said: “Martin [O’Neill] had just finished his bit when Roy came over, got right in my face and started f***ing me out of it.
“‘Look at you, the f***ing captain, f***ing giving off, yeah? You were taking pictures before the game with f***ing Mick Conlan. Your head isn’t f***ing on it.’”
It was a performance to forget for McClean as he gave away a penalty in the first half, remaining silent as Keane raged in the dressing room.
However, the controversial 103-cap former international has explained that Keane doubled down, accusing McClean of “having a big ego” in another verbal tirade during a gym session.
McClean added: “He said he’d never been critical of me in the press or around the group, and now, the first time he’d said anything, I’d pulled him up over it. Then he started going off about the Lamborghini at Sunderland, which was f***ing six years earlier. I was thinking he must have been seething for the afternoon, gathering information.
This was in reference to then-Black Cats boss O’Neill allegedly dropping the Irish star for purchasing a supercar.
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However, McClean had the last laugh as he scored in Ireland’s next match against Uruguay and topped it off with a selfie celebration.
This latest revelation comes after defender Matt Doherty accused Keane of having a limited impact during his six years as O’Neill’s right-hand man.
Keane also drew significant criticism during his managerial tenure for his foul-mouthed rampages against Jonathan Walters and Harry Arter.
He ultimately stepped away from management in 2018, making a full-time switch to punditry.