Roy Keane flies into Dublin this morning with Ireland firmly divided over its biggest sporting superstar. The Manchester United skipper will lead his side out against League of Ireland Shelbourne in a pre-season friendly.
Under normal circumstances the 30-year-old could expect a hero's welcome, but his presence this afternoon will reopen the bitter debate over his expulsion from the World Cup squad by Ireland's manager Mick McCarthy.
The nation's massive Manchester United following have remained loyal to Keane, but many others still feel a sense of betrayal about Keane's behaviour in the Far East.
Fintan Cassidy is the chairman of the Shelbourne Supporters Association and he believes this afternoon will not all be plain sailing for the Corkman.
He said: "I think he can expect a mixed reception, although it is worth remembering that a lot of the tickets have been snapped up by Manchester United supporters, so he will have support inside the ground.
"In any case, Ireland was split in two concerning United long before any of this happened. You have United supporters and the rest are called ABUs [Anybody But United]. Obviously the whole World Cup row has only deepened this divide.
"As a Shelbourne fan I am grateful that he is playing because he is their main draw and has guaranteed a full house. But personally I am against him. I believe he orchestrated the whole incident in order to get sent home from the World Cup."
Dublin police have ordered that the road leading to Tolka Park, Shelbourne's ground, is to be closed off from 10am.
Ironically, Keane's previous appearance at this ground was also shrouded in controversy. In August 1996 United turned up to play a League of Ireland XI, less than two months after Keane had gone AWOL from international duty.
On that occassion Ireland had been due to fly off to the USA for an end of season tournament, but Keane neglected to even ring recently installed manager Mick McCarthy to tell him he wasn't going.
As the country once again pondered the United midfielder's whereabouts, a photographer tracked the Corkman down at a cricket match in Manchester.
Keane's actions placed McCarthy, who had just made the former Nottingham Forest midfielder his captain, in a hugely embarassing situation.
Considering their foremost footballer had spurned the opportunity to captain his country and instead spent an afternoon drinking at Old Trafford cricket ground, the Irish public were less than impressed.
Six years later and things have gone full circle, although his failure to show up for the US Cup in 1996 did not register on the Richter Scale compared with the eartquake that shook Irish football when he was sent home from the World Cup two months ago.
There are fears that irate fans may turn up to demonstrate against Keane outside the ground this afternoon, but people without tickets will not be allowed near the stadium.
This is probably a wise move from both Shelbourne and United's viewpoint as Cassidy believes there will be those who come from afar to let Keane know their feelings.
He said: "I think there is a strong chance some people might come to the game without tickets, just to let him know their feelings before kick off.
"Ireland is split about 50-50 on Roy Keane. To the United fans, he is still hugely popular, whereas the rest of the country still feels let down."
