April 2001: Keane, Haaland tussle at Old Trafford (GaryMPrior/Allsport)

Haaland and his club, Manchester City, have said they will sue both Manchester United and their skipper over the shocking tackle made during a derby match at Old Trafford on April 21 last year.

But writer Eamon Dunphy, a former United player, admitted that 'artistic licence' was as much responsible for the comments in 'Keane - The Autobiography' which have overshadowed the opening week of the Premiership season.

The book contains the admission that the Irish midfielder's X-rated lunge on his City rival was premeditated but Dunphy has told The Observer that he 'paraphrased' Keane's opinions.

'We thought it would be a nice football book, that it would be no problem,' said Dunphy. 'But there is the passage about Haaland. I am as much responsible for that, as a writer, rather than Roy.'

Dunphy, whose work also includes an acclaimed 1991 biography of legendary United boss Sir Matt Busby, added: 'There is artistic licence. I should take the rap. But he won't let me. Fair play to him. No whingeing. No screaming. No "I didn't say that; he made it up".

'But I was paraphrasing. Still no whining. But we are talking about a man here.'

However, City's threatened court action is still likely to go ahead after Dunphy confirmed that the manuscript was read and approved by Keane and United manager Sir Alex Ferguson before its serialisation in newspapers.

Dunphy also suggests that the Keane-Haaland incident was no worse than the Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard's tackle on Arsenal's Patrick Vieira in last Sunday's Community Shield.

'What did Gerrard say? That he was trying to make an impression on the game. That is the way the game is. And now they want to crucify Roy.'

Keane has added details of his low opinion of both the FA Cup and former Republic of Ireland manager Jack Charlton in the latest selection of quotes from his book, printed in Sunday's News of the World.

The 31-year-old says he feigned disappointment when his club pulled out of their defence of the FA Cup in 2000 in order to play in the World Club Championship in Brazil.

'The competition had lost its relevance, certainly for me - the Premiership and the Champions Cup were the only trophies we were concerned about,' Keane is quoted as saying.

'We all put on our sick-as-parrot faces, expressing shock and regret but privately, I didn't care. Brazil in January sounded great.'

Keane also poured scorn on Charlton, Ireland's manger from 1986 to 1995 and the most successful national manager in the country's history.

'Charlton's achievements look greater than they are,' Keane said. ' As a coach he didn't impress me at all and the preparation for Ireland games was a haphazard joke.'

'I found it impossible to relate to him as a man or a coach - he was a bully who neither frightened nor impressed me.'

Keane said he had nothing but sympathy for Eric Cantona after the French striker attacked an allegedly abusive fan with a kung-fu kick after being sent off playing for United at Crystal Palace in January 1995.

Cantona was banned from football for eight months for the assault and given community service after being found guilty by a magistrates' court.

'The incident between Eric Cantona and a fan at Selhurst Park in 1995 was serious for the club,' Keane said. 'But I'll tell you my immediate reaction: So what?

'Fair play to Eric. I might have done the same myself. Of course, when I got home and saw the television pictures I could see it was a nasty incident. Out of order, too.