Keane sets his target

New Sunderland manager Roy Keane has set his sights on promotion to the Premiership - even though he has yet to take charge of the Black Cats for a competitive fixture.

Keane watched from the directors' box as his new club defeated promotion candidates West Bromwich Albion two weeks ago.

He formally took the job after that game, and Saturday's trip to Derby County is his first game in charge of the Wearside outfit.

But the former Manchester United and Ireland captain was advocating no "softly, softly" approach, insisting that both he and his players harbour ambitions for a place in the top flight.

Asked about the prospect of winning promotion, he said: "I do not really intend on just going through the motions and looking to stay around the bottom of the league.

"We are looking to win football matches and when you win football matches, the rest takes care of itself.

"I am not looking to get ahead of myself, but with the squad of players we have got, the support we have got, why not?

"The attitude from the players is fantastic, [promotion] is what they have come here for. I do not plan on staying around the bottom of the Championship too long."