By DPA
London : He would no doubt wish it were with his side in better form, but Sunderland manager Roy Keane returns to Old Trafford Saturday looking to put one over on Manchester United, the club he inspired for 12 years.
Keane won eight Premiership titles, four FA Cups and a UEFA Champions League in his time at United, and his start in management showed promise of similar success as he led Sunderland to the Championship crown in his first season.
He celebrated a year in the job this week, but in less than happy circumstances, as Sunderland crashed out of the Carling Cup 3-0 at Luton.
In the Premiership, an opening day win over Tottenham followed by a draw away to Birmingham raised expectations, but successive defeats to Wigan and Liverpool have already led to questions about Keane’s summer signings.
He has responded by signing three further players – defenders Ian Harte and Dannny Higginbotham and forward Kenwyne Jones – taking his tally of additions this summer to 12.
Keane is particularly delighted with the signing of Jones, a Trinidad and Tobago international he believes will bolster an attack that has looked anaemic.
“He is a big strong boy who is quick and athletic too,” Keane said. “He has real physical presence and is the type of player we’ve been missing.”
There is also the intriguing possibility that Andy Cole, brought in on a free transfer last week, could make his debut against the club with whom he too won a Champions League medal.
United, having finally won their first game by beating Tottenham last week, will still be without the injured Wayne Rooney and the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo.
Having already dropped seven points this season, United may already be too far adrift. Certainly that’s what Chelsea skipper John Terry thinks.
“Maybe they’re missing that spark, especially with Rooney and Ronaldo out,” he said. “Five points is a hell of a gap.”
Chelsea, whose only dropped points came at Liverpool, face a demanding trip to Aston Villa Sunday.
Liverpool themselves will be optimistic of extending their promising start at home to bottom-of-the-table Derby, while Arsenal, shaky so far, will not be relishing the visit of Portsmouth.
Manchester City, having dropped their first points at Arsenal last week, have another testing away game, against Lancashire rivals Blackburn.
Tottenham, with doubts still hanging over the future of manager Martin Jol, face another struggler in Fulham, who have impressed with their application but have still lost three out of four this season.