Sunderland will go into their Premiership opener without Grant Leadbitter and with doubts over the fitness of Greg Halford and Carlos Edwards. Leadbitter is sidelined for at least a fortnight with a knee injury while Halford and Edwards have at least some chance to make the Spurs clash at the weekend weekend with hamstring and hip injuries respectively.

The pair are likely to form the right-hand side of Sunderland’s team if fit and Keane is hoping he’ll know more on their situation in the next couple of days. Paul McShane is likely to be shifted to right-back in the absence of Halford with Russell Anderson partnering Nyron Nosworthy in the middle. Liam Miller is most likely to profit should Edwards fail to make it.