Ex-Ireland midfielder Jason McAteer says his former international colleague Roy Keane is "softer" than his popular perception.

McAteer was on Sky Sports' Goals on Sunday programme when he discussed a character he clashed with in the past.

"What you see on the telly when he’s doing press conferences, that’s his character. He’s not like that really. Does he play a role? I think he does... well I know he does. He can play it to the media and the public and he has this hard-man persona. But he has got a sense of humour and he is funny when he wants to be. Is he softer in the dressing room? Very much so. He will get annoyed, but he’d be a lot softer than you’d think."