Irish pundit and former Manchester United midfielder Eamon Dunphy has accused Roy Keane of driving Declan Rice into England's arms.

Dunphy has slammed the United legend's personality.

He told the Sunday World: “I don't see him a kindred spirit at all. First of all, I could play and I would be a much more softer piece of work than Roy.

"The reverse side of Roy is tough. You can see it in him.

"He's intolerant and it's a shame as I remember talking about it with John (Giles) when he went into management at Sunderland. We had great hopes, we thought he was some leader as a player - and he was a great, great, great player."

Dunphy went on to suggest West Ham captain Rice may have committed his international future to England, after he witnessed Keane issuing a dressing down to Harry Arter in what proved to be his final appearance in a Republic of Ireland squad. Keane was Martin O'Neill's No2.

"You could see it when he was with the Ireland team (as a coach)," he added. “He was fighting with players… Jon Walters.

"We could have Declan Rice if it wasn't for his experience in the Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane camp, where he witnessed things."