THE first image of critically-acclaimed actor Steve Coogan’s portrayal as Barnsley man Mick McCarthy has been revealed.

It was announced earlier this year that Coogan would play McCarthy in an upcoming film which depicts the infamous World Cup fallout of 2002.

The film, called Saipan, is centred around the incident where Roy Keane clashed with the Worsbrough-born man, resulting in him leaving the training camp before the competition started.

The fallout between the pair and the media frenzy that ensued will be the main focus of the film, which is being made in association with Screen Ireland and Northern Ireland Screen.

Lancashire-born Coogan, who is most famous for his role as Alan Partridge, has recently portrayed Jimmy Savile.

Filming began this summer and it is set to be released next year.

It has been dubbed a ‘true-life comedy of the most epic proportions’ which looks at the ‘intense rivalry between Keane and McCarthy which transcended the game and gripped an entire nation’, according to the synopsis.

It states: “On the surface, the feud was all about standards, but deep down it was a hugely emotive story of two men whose rivalry and contempt came to surpass the sport they loved.

“This is the definitive account of one of the most fractious falling-outs in the history of sport.”