Keane seeking big lift from Cole's experience

5:01am Monday 19th November 2007

ROY KEANE wants Andrew Cole to add the Premier League mentality to Sunderland that has been lacking from much of their play this season.

After emerging from 70 minutes of last week's fixture with Falkirk unscathed, Cole is likely to be handed another opportunity to increase his fitness in a behind-closed-doors friendly with Chesterfield tomorrow.

Cole's illustrious career sees him lie second only to Alan Shearer in the sheer number of goals scored in the Premier League.

Since signing for Sunderland his dream has been to be given a chance to claim the 13 goals which will see him hit the 200-goal milestone.

But injury and Keane are forcing him to wait in his attempts to make inroads towards that figure.

He has yet to score in the top-flight this year. It was December 30 - Portsmouth's 3-2 defeat at Bolton - when Cole last found the net in the Premier League, but Keane insists his free signing can still deliver at the highest level.

"We brought him to the club because he has what we've been missing a bit, that experience and the ability to take his chances when they come along," said Keane.

"You can't buy that. I've worked with him and I know what he is all about. We have a lot of young players and maybe I've under-estimated the lack of experience we have got.

"That might come into the equation when we buy players in January. We haven't been streetwise enough and Andrew will bring that to the side.

"It's not about just what he adds in terms of his quality, it's what he can give to Kenwyne Jones and Michael Chopra in terms of his experience as well.

"They will benefit from playing with him in games and, more importantly, in training."

Cole has turned 36 since signing for his 11th professional club in September, but there is a feeling he could be involved either against Everton or Derby before the trip to Chelsea.

"It's been unfortunate for us that Cole has been injured, but he has trained for a couple of weeks and has had a couple of reserve games and hopefully he'll be involved against Everton," said Keane.

"He doesn't need five or six reserve games because of his experience. He still needs a bit of sharpness though."

Keane, meanwhile, plans to sit down with Graham Kavanagh this week to thrash out the future of the 33-year-old. Kavanagh has yet to start this season, despite being recalled from a brief loan stint with Sheffield Wednesday.