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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Mark McCadden

How Roy Keane showed his softer side at Christmas by getting in the festive spirit as Roy O'Donovan recalls kind gesture

Roy O'Donovan has revealed how his old boss Roy Keane shed his Grinch-style persona one Christmas Day and allowed his Sunderland players a pint - the night before a St Stephen’s Day clash with his old club Manchester United.

Irish striker O’Donovan had just signed for the Black Cats that year and was about to make his fifth Premier League appearance for the side.

Keane allowed his players to spend Christmas morning at home with their families, before gathering his squad in a local hotel that night.

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