CRYSTAL PALACE striker Clinton Morrison has revealed Roy Keane is the only person in football to make him feel afraid.

Keane's Sunderland side travel to Selhurst Park tonight to face Palace in the Championship and the Black Cats are in buoyant mood after a seven-match unbeaten run.

Morrison and Keane were team-mates with the Republic of Ireland between 2001 and 2005 - and Morrison still winces when he recalls his first meeting with the former Man United skipper.

"I was on Roy's team in a training match and, when I gave the ball away, he gave me the biggest rollicking ever," admitted Morrison, 27. "He is the only person in football to have made me afraid.

"After that incident, I made sure I kept the ball all the time, so he couldn't hammer me. I was a bit wary of him at first, and I used to think, 'I don't want to be on his team' before training matches.

"But I got on well with him when we were with Ireland - surprisingly, because I have a bit of a big mouth and Roy doesn't normally like those matched their pre-season expectations this term, and are types of players.

"But he is a top bloke and is probably the best player Ihave ever played with. He helped me a lot with my game."

Keane has had a huge impact at the Stadium of Light, as Sunderland had lost four of their five league matches before he took over.

Almost four months later, Keane's men are 11th in the table and only four points adrift of a play-off spot.

Palace, on the other hand, are struggling. They have not matched their pre-season expectations this term, and are 17th in the table, 12 points shy of a top-six place.

It is no surprise to Morrison, though, that Keane has made the transition from player to manager relatively smoothly.

The outspoken has made the transition from player to manager forward continued: "Roy is a on and off the pitch. He always wanted players to do it his way.

"When I go away with Ireland, I speak to some of the Sunderland players, and they are a bit nervous about going into Roy's office to ask why they are not in the team. "But they have all said that training has been brilliant."

Palace boss Peter Taylor believes his team can forget about winning promotion to the Premiership if they fail to do well over Christmas and New Year, and Morrison agrees.

He added: "The next four or five games will determine our season. If we don't pick up many wins, it looks as though we will be stuck in this division for another season. There have been more low points than high points. We have been losing games, and it has not been up to scratch."

Morrison will be hoping for some highs tonight by continuing his recent good form in front of goal by adding to his six goals this season that have made him the club's top scorer. Keane, however, will know what to expect from his former team-mate.

- Tom Collomosse