ROY KEANE will return to Manchester United to ask mentor Sir Alex Ferguson if he can recruit the services of former team-mate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The Sunderland boss has made no secret of his desire to land a new striker in the January transfer window and is ready to test United by trying to persuade Solskjaer to drop down a division on loan.

The Irishman feels that, despite a torturous three years with injuries, Solskjaer can spearhead a Black Cats promotion push.

Keane's chances of pulling off the major transfer coup have been strengthened by Ferguson's own operations in the market, with Henrik Larsson destined to arrive at Old Trafford on January 1 on a ten-week loan.

The acquisition of Larsson, coupled with the return of Giuseppe Rossi from Newcastle, after an unspectacular short-term stay, means Ferguson will have five top strikers even if he allows Solskjaer to move on.

The United boss is not looking to offload the Norwegian, who is still worshipped at the Theatre of Dreams after years as a super sub, but could be tempted to let him go temporarily to build up his match fitness again.

For the last three seasons Solskjaer has been troubled by a series of horrendous knee injuries and returned to the first team fold only in August.

The 33-year-old showed he has lost none of his talent in front of goal and scored six times before picking up another injury, this time a hamstring problem, in the Carling Cup win over Crewe on October 25.

It took him a further five weeks to recover but he has played in each of United's last two Champions League games with FC Copenhagen and Benfica, and is expected to be on the bench at West Ham this weekend.

But, once Larsson has arrived for his winter sojourn from Swedish club Helsingborgs, Solskjaer could find himself dropping down the pecking order again.

Larsson, who spent the previous two seasons with European champions Barcelona, is due to be available for 13 games for the Red Devils and that could become more if progress is made in the FA Cup.

At 35, many would claim the former Celtic hero was past his best but Ferguson clearly doesn't think so and could be willing to allow Solskjaer to leave while the Swede is in the Premiership.

Keane, whose top scorers Stephen Elliott and Daryl Murphy have only five goals each, is well aware that goals are a priority for the final few months of the campaign and knows Solskjaer will provide him with that.

The Sunderland boss is keeping a close eye on Arsenal's teenage goalscorer Anthony Stokes but expects the Gunners to demand 'top money' for his services.

Stokes, 18, had scored 13 goals in as many games prior to failing to find the net against Aberdeen on Saturday, and has been watched on a couple of occasions by Keane.

Solskjaer, though, could provide Sunderland with a viable short term alternative that would not cost a fee and he could head back to United after helping old pal Keane out.

Up front is not the only area of the field the former Republic of Ireland midfielder is looking to strengthen, with defence also a high priority.

Released Hearts skipper Stephen Pressley is one name to have been mentioned over the last 48 hours, while a competent right-back is high on Keane's agenda.

Midfielder Dean Whitehead is being asked to play there presently and that is likely to continue at Burnley this Saturday, while there could also be a search for a new left-back.

Robbie Elliott, out of contract in the new year, is not likely to be given a new deal and Keane is being forced to play either of his two left-sided centre-backs Lewin Nyatanga or Danny Collins there at the moment.

Keane expects a busy January on the transfer front and is ready step up his interest in certain targets now rather than miss the boat later.