AS Sir Alex Ferguson's unofficial spokesman, it was perhaps to be expected that Roy Keane's autobiography would be as explosive as his temper.

Just as Ferguson's book amounted to little more than a character assassination of some of his former players and colleagues - including Gordon Strachan and Brian Kidd - so Keane chose to settle scores; to add fuel to already raging arguments.

But even the highly-combustible Irishman, football's very own Tasmanian Devil, may be regretting his latest ill-timed lunge at Alfie Haaland.

Previously, Keane has chosen his targets with laser-guided precision - remember his attack on Old Trafford's "prawn sandwich" brigade (at Ferguson's behest) and his "fail to prepare, prepare to fail" comments that so enraged Mick McCarthy?

But to openly admit to having tried to injure a player leaves Keane wide open to the charge of gross naivety at best; crass stupidity at worst.

Not to mention the FA charge that must follow such comments. If Keane's admission does not amount to bringing the game into disrepute, players would be able to take to the field armed with sub-machine guns - to protect themselves from the Manchester United captain, perhaps? - confident they would escape censure.

Don't forget, these were not ill-chosen words proffered in the heat of the moment - Keane has thought through his verbal volley before putting it into print.

Surely Keane could have added to his hardman image, if that was his aim, in a more sensible way?

The 31-year-old is always refreshingly candid; always ready to criticise himself or his teammates, especially in the wake of a Champions League game, he acts as Ferguson's mouthpiece. What the United manager thinks, Keane says.

And for the neutral, it makes a wonderful change to read what a player really believes, rather than a none-too-fascinating description of how he enjoys Phil Collins, or Luther Vandross, or steak and chips.

But a massive fine, plus a possible ban, now hangs over Keane's head - just because he couldn't let his running battle with Haaland lie.

Ferguson and Keane are as thick as thieves, and the United manager will be loathe to discipline his skipper.

But if he stands idly by, the Scot will be accused of condoning his player's conduct.

And there will be another, and perhaps more damaging, ramification for Keane and United.

Whenever Keane plays in future, especially if his Norwegian nemesis is on the opposition side, any referee worth his £33,000-a-year Premiership retainer will no doubt be keeping a watchful eye on the Irishman.

Whenever Keane commits a foul, the merry whistleblower will ask himself: did he mean that? was he trying to harm that player?

So, Keane might have got himself into trouble with the FA for his Haaland admission.

But if he thought he was a marked man where referees are concerned before now, he ain't seen nothin' yet