Former Sunderland full-back Danny Simpson has opened up on his spell on Wearside.
The youngster joined the club on loan from Roy Keane's former club Manchester United in 2006.
Simpson had spent a year on loan at Belgian side Antwerp prior to joining Sunderland and said he was looking forward to testing himself under an "idol" in the Championship.
Speaking to the Official Manchester United Podcast, Simpson said: "Sir Alex [Ferguson] sent me and Jonny [Evans] to Sunderland to play under Roy Keane who was an idol.
"I'd done a year in Belgium - are you ready to go to the Championship and take on that pressure under your idol who scared you?
"I remember training with the first team and you know when the bibs get given out and it's 10 vs 10 - if Keano got a bib you didn't want one. If you were on his team you got hammered.
"Even if it was a good pass to him and he messed up it was your fault. He just hammered you but it toughened you up.
"I remember him hammering Pique, going 'who are you?' He went mad about his hair and his wristband. He hammered him.
"He was an idol and we went there and learned a lot. We managed to have a successful spell and win the league."
You can listen to the full podcast here.
