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Roy Keane would have kicked Belgium's Eden Hazard over his attitude had they been team-mates

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Republic of Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane admits he would have kicked Eden Hazard in training for claims he wanted to leave Chelsea

Roy Keane has admitted he would have kicked any team-mate who repeatedly spoke of leaving his club after questioning Belgium star Eden Hazard's attitude ahead of the Republic of Ireland's clash with Belgium.

Keane, in his role as a Champions League TV pundit, branded the Chelsea star "a spoilt child" and said he would "kick him up and down the training pitch" if he were one of his team-mates earlier this season.

Ireland face Hazard's Belgium in their second Group E fixture at the Euro 2016 finals in Bordeaux on Saturday, and while the 44-year-old Republic of Ireland assistant manager believes the midfielder is a talented player, he did not appreciate his willingness to link himself with Paris St Germain in February.

LYON, FRANCE - JUNE 13:  Eden Hazard of Belgium in action during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group E match between Belgium and Italy at Stade des Lumieres on June 1
Image: Eden Hazard failed to shine for Belgium in their loss to Italy

Speaking at the Republic's Versailles training base on Thursday, he said: "That's nothing personal, I would do that to anybody who was talking about possibly wanting to leave all the time.

"It's nothing against the lad - I think he's a talented boy. I'd like him to be in our group, he's a really, really top player.

"He's had a difficult season, I suppose, but that's because maybe he set his standards so high the previous season.

"If you'd asked me if I was playing with anybody, whether I was at Forest, Rockmount, Cobh Ramblers, and they were constantly talking - if it was true - that they wanted to leave and they had a poor attitude to training, then I would kick them in training, yes.

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"But I have kind of done that with most players, I suppose, even lads who didn't want to leave."

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