Sat 4th Oct - Stadium of Light
By Pete Oliver Last updated: 17th July 2008
Keane: Ready to talk
Sunderland manager Roy Keane believes he is just a week away from landing his first new signings of the summer.
Keane is yet to add to his squad and faces the prospect of starting the season without injured striker Kenwyne Jones.
But the Black Cats boss is hopeful of a change in fortunes by the time Sunderland return from a training trip to Portugal.
"Sometimes you have to keep going and keep going and we are certainly doing that," said Keane.
"I am pretty sure that this time next week we will have plenty of new faces at the club."
Keane is yet to speak with any prospective targets as chairman Niall Quinn and chief executive Peter Walker attempt to thrash out deals.
And he is itching to use his persuasive powers to strengthen a squad that struggled against relegation last season.
"That's all I ask for. I always say to Niall and Peter 'just give me a chance to speak to the player' and if we can make a deal happen well and good," Keane said.
One player who will not be arriving at the Stadium of Light is Steaua Bucharest defender Dorin Goian with Sunderland pulling out of a potential deal.
Meanwhile, Keane is still waiting to see how long he will be without Jones, who sustained ligament damage while playing for Trinidad and Tobago in a friendly against England last month.
He added: "I don't want to be second-guessing when Kenwyne is going to be back but, as with any player, you want to avoid surgery at all costs and that's what we are hoping for.
"We have got two or three weeks to play with yet, but it would certainly rule him out for the first month or two, whatever happens."
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 18th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Sunderland |
| Saturday 25th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Sunderland vs Newcastle |
| Saturday 1st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Sunderland |
| Saturday 8th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Portsmouth |
| Saturday 15th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Sunderland |
| Sunday 23rd November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 16:00 | Sunderland vs West Ham |
| Saturday 29th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Bolton |
| Saturday 6th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Man Utd vs Sunderland |
| Saturday 13th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs West Brom |
| Saturday 20th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Hull vs Sunderland |
| Friday 26th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Blackburn |
| Sunday 28th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 14:00 | Everton vs Sunderland |
| Saturday 10th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Middlesbrough vs Sunderland |
| Saturday 17th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Aston Villa |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Saturday 4th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 1 - 1 Arsenal | |
| Saturday 27th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 2 - 1 Sunderland | |
| Tuesday 23rd September | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Sunderland 2 - 2 Northampton | |
| Saturday 20th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 2 - 0 Middlesbrough | |
| Saturday 13th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wigan 1 - 1 Sunderland | |
| Sunday 31st August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 0 - 3 Man City | |
| Wednesday 27th August | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Nottm Forest 1 - 2 Sunderland | |
| Saturday 23rd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Tottenham 1 - 2 Sunderland | |
| Saturday 16th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 0 - 1 Liverpool | |
| Thursday 7th August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Athlone Town 0 - 6 Sunderland | |
| Wednesday 30th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Nottm Forest 0 - 1 Sunderland | |
| Monday 28th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Cobh Ramblers 0 - 4 Sunderland | |
| Wednesday 23rd July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Vitoria Setubal 1 - 1 Sunderland | |
| Sunday 20th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Sporting 1 - 3 Sunderland | |
| Saturday 19th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Arbroath 1 - 3 Sunderland | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Middlesbrough | 7 | 9 |
| 13 | Wigan Athletic | 7 | 8 |
| 14 | Sunderland | 7 | 8 |
| 15 | Everton | 7 | 8 |
| 16 | Bolton Wanderers | 7 | 7 |
The first weekend of October in the Premier League finds harmony in performance analysis.
Grant Leadbitter, Ross Turnbull and Hull grabbed Chris Kamara's attention over the weekend.
Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn wants Roy Keane to take the club and his own career to the next level.
Roy Keane has backed veteran Dwight Yorke to play an important role at Sunderland this season.
Roy Keane wants his Sunderland side to begin emulating the achievements of Premier League new-boys Hull.
Carlisle have signed experienced midfielder Graham Kavanagh on loan for a month from Sunderland.
Roy Keane has taken a swipe at Arsenal's youth policy, claiming they do not deserve credit for developing their young talent.