SOCCER/ English Premier League: Sunderland v Birmingham CityWith critically important games against Wigan and Derby coming up soon after this evening's visit by Birmingham City, manager Roy Keane would have hoped to have added a little more quality to his Sunderland squad by this point in the Premier League transfer window.
The Irishman conceded yesterday, however, that he and the club's supporters might have to get used to the fact that they might have to battle on with what they have after failing so far with a string of bids for Reading's Stephen Hunt and apparently inquiring after Andy Reid and Heerenveen's American midfielder Michael Bradley with no greater success.
"Our mentality now has to be that, that's it," said Keane. "This is what we've got and we get on with it. It was good to get a couple more fresh faces in last week. Bardo (Phil Bardsley) and Prica (Rade Prica) have settled in very well and our first impressions from working with them closely is that they will do well.
"We're running out of time now in terms of the deadline, though, and if something happens in the next 24 or 48 hours, it would be a surprise. We have not been given permission to speak to anyone else and if we did, we would then have to be doing the talks for personal terms and get the medicals done. Never say never, but we're cutting it fine and if I was a betting man, I'd say keep your hands in your pocket."
Keane was widely expected to spend a good deal more money than he has in an effort to boost Sunderland's chances of survival and of the four players who have arrived during the last few weeks, three are young and fairly inexperienced defenders.
His comments yesterday may, however, be an attempt to suggest to both Reading and Hunt, Sunderland's leading target over the past month, that there will be no improvement over the coming days to the €7.5 million offered for the Republic of Ireland international last week. The hope would be that the player might push for the move despite talks about a new contract at the Madejski Stadium or that the club's determination to keep him might weaken but there has been little obvious reason for Keane to be encouraged so far.
Bardsley and Prica could be handed debuts in tonight's clash with Birmingham. The former Manchester United full-back and the Swedish striker, a £2 million capture from Danish club Aalborg, may both figure against Alex McLeish's side at the Stadium of Light.
Michael Chopra is suspended, while Danny Higginbotham and Grant Leadbitter (both broken toe), Ross Wallace (knee ligaments), Kieran Richardson (hamstring), Carlos Edwards (broken leg) and Dickson Etuhu (international duty) will all be missing.
