Four days after a bitter bust-up with McCarthy led to his expulsion from the Republic squad, the Manchester United skipper last night revealed his sense of hurt at events - and disappointment at the lack of support shown to him by team-mates.

‘‘I feel I’ve earned the respect to have my say. When you are in charge of the team you want people behind you,’’ he told RTE.

But the 30-year-old refused to apologise for comments made to McCarthy in the infamous ‘‘slanging match’’, and insisted any resolution would have to be initiated by others.

When asked if an apology would be enough to see Keane return to the fold, McCarthy said: ‘‘Has there been one? It’s hypothetical. The call needs to come doesn’t it."

But McCarthy said there was no chance he would make the call.

‘‘I don’t believe that’s the way forward,’’ he added.

McCarthy confessed he had not seen the full version of Keane’s interview with Irish TV, but he insisted the first move has to come from the Manchester United midfielder.

He said: ‘‘I haven’t seen the interview but I’ve heard bits of it.

‘‘However I have said all along I’m not going to conduct this affair through the media and that is still my stance.

‘‘I’ve not received any phone calls from Roy and the squad have not received any phone call from Roy.

‘‘I know he has been on television and spoken to three million people but he has not spoken to me or to anyone in the squad.

‘‘I’ve not switched my phone off - everyone knows where I am and people can get in touch with me.’’

But McCarthy refused to back down over his decision to send Keane home, insisting he acted with Ireland’s best interests at heart.

He added: ‘‘The team is bigger than one person, that includes everyone and it includes me as well. The team for me is paramount.

‘‘This is not what I wanted. There’s a lot of talk about what people have done for Ireland but I have always done my best and I’ve wanted the best for Ireland.

‘‘I have done always what I thought was the best, when I was a player and as a manager.’’