Roy Keane shrugged off ‘Fenian b******’ jeers from Rangers fans, received the highest praise from Sir Alex Ferguson after win for Manchester United and put on Man of the Match display on Old Firm debut with Celtic

Roy Keane and Old Firms go hand in hand.

He ruled midfields with an iron fist throughout his career, giving opponents a torrid time with his tough tackling and quality play on the ball.

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In an attempt to throw him off, Keane claims Rangers fans would yell 'You Fenian b******' pre-match. But those highly offensive jeers only made him play better.

He had faced Rangers playing for Manchester United, having been drawn in the same group with the Gers in the Champions League in the 2003/04 season.

As expected, the Premier League side did the double on Rangers, the second outing seeing them dispatch the Scottish giants 3-0 at Old Trafford.

And Keane received some of the highest praise from Man United boss Sir Alex Ferguson after the match.

"Roy Keane's fantastic - he's the best player I have had here and I have some great players," Ferguson said. "It's his authority, his play, it's everything he does.

"Of course I am pleased with the result, and for most of the game we played some good football with good penetration, in the first half particularly."

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Just over two years later, Keane left Man United and embarked on a new challenge at Rangers' Glasgow rivals Celtic.

Keane's Celtic career couldn't have got off to a worst start as they were knocked out of the Scottish Cup with a defeat to Clyde, who were playing in the equivalent of the Scottish Championship, on his debut.

Celtic players had to fend off furious fans at the Hoops training ground after the defeat. But all was forgiven a month later.

Keane made his Old Firm debut at a raucous Ibrox in February 2006, which the Hoops won 1-0 - Keane putting on a Man of the Match display.

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"My first Old Firm game was at Ibrox and we won 1-0. It was brilliant. It lived up to all the expectations, probably because we won," Keane wrote in his autobiography The Second Half.

"The start of my Celtic career hadn't been great - losing to Clyde, and angry fans. But then, not long after, we go and win at Rangers, and I'm thinking, 'This is what it's all about.'

"The atmosphere was brilliant, f****** electric. The hatred - I enjoyed all that.

"I got a yellow card for a foul on [Dado] Prso and they were baying for a red card. Physically, I must have felt good. I was Man of the Match, and that was a little moment of satisfaction, another tiny victory.

"The dressing room afterwards was great. Again, this is what it's all about."

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Celtic can tighten their grip on the Scottish Premiership title race with a win at Rangers on Sunday.

And if anyone in the Hoops squad is ready to channel their inner-Roy Keane, a win should follow.