Cats boss working down list in search for striker

Aug 7 2008 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

ROY Keane has turned his attention to other striker targets after missing out on the top five names on his summer hit-list.

The Sunderland manager’s revelation that key forward Kenwyne Jones will return within two months is an unexpected and welcome bonus for the Black Cats – but it has not alleviated the pressure on Keane to bring in a striker capable of converting the chances he anticipates his new-look midfield supply line will create.

While progress has been smooth and relatively trouble-free on other priority targets like El-Hadji Diouf and Steed Malbranque, luring a striker with proven Premier League pedigree has been more difficult.

And, while Keane is still confident of luring a high-calibre forward, he admits Sunderland have been forced to give up on “between five and six” of the names at the top of the list that he handed to chairman Niall Quinn and chief executive Peter Walker at their end-of-season debrief.

Although the Sunderland manager provided no names, it can be assumed that Tottenham striker Darren Bent was among his priority targets at the start of the summer. Circumstances have overtaken the Wearsiders on that front,

with the sale of Robbie Keane and the uncertainty over Dimitar Berbatov’s future causing Tottenham to draw back from any sale. Bent has also been prolific in Tottenham’s pre-season friendlies.

Everton’s Andrew Johnson, who is bound for Fulham, was another player in whom Sunderland registered their interest – but the player opted to move to London for family reasons.

Those developments have left Republic of Ireland forward Kevin Doyle near the top of Sunderland’s wish-list, along with Manchester United’s Louis Saha – although injuries and his wage demands are complicating that deal. Despite the summer setbacks, Keane is remaining sanguine – even suggesting that sticking with his current squad would be far from a disaster. “It’s a strange game we’re in – doors open and doors shut all the time,” he said. “If I was asked are the five or six players you first had on your list still there, my answer would have to be no to that. We made some good offers for strikers, but sometimes clubs are in a good position and they can turn deals down.

“We are hopeful of making progress on the transfer front. There are three positions I think that we need strengthening and we are working very hard on that. I keep saying we are not going to beg any player to come to the club. If they want to come, fantastic because I think this is a fantastic club. If not, then we focus on the players we have. But I’m hopeful and have my fingers crossed we can strengthen squad.”

Sunderland flew to Ireland yesterday for the final two engagements in their pre-season preparations, with a game against Athlone Town tonight offering a chance to “experiment” before Keane sends for his big hitters against Shamrock Rovers on Saturday. Kieran Richardson and Liam Miller were included in the travelling party, along with young left-back Michael Liddle. “I will probably do a bit of experimenting in the first game and then try to narrow it down a bit more for the Shamrock Rovers game on Saturday,” he said.

“So we will look forward to them. We will obviously have a great reception of course. We have a few Irish players but we want to do well in every game.”

Meanwhile, Keane confirmed that he changed the dimensions of the Stadium of Light pitch for the Ajax game. “Maybe it was slightly tighter. It was something different,” he said.

“Once the pitch is set in size for the season that’s it – there’s no changing it. We have other teams’ pitch sizes. Obviously some teams want a big pitch, others like it nice and tight. Ours is in between.”