SUNDERLAND may have prepared for this evening's visit of Crystal Palace with a spot of paintballing; now they are planning on making a bigger splash in the top six.

Roy Keane took his charges away to an army-style assault course in North Yorkshire last week for a set of team bonding exercises.

The Black Cats boss confessed that while he learned nothing new about any of his squad from the trip it still turned out to be a valuable exercise.

"There was paintballing, an assault course, highwire walking and balancing. It was absolutely brilliant," admitted Keane who is looking record a fourth consecutive league victory when the Eagles land on Wearside tonight.

"It was just a change and a chance to see the players in a different environment and to get away from the training ground.

"You see the competitors come to the forefront and find out the lads who will do that extra bit for you."

Keane was not only there in an observation capacity and acknowledged he got his hands dirty in the activities - and suffered from the consequences.

"I got involved, and of course I got bombed in the paint balling," admitted the Sunderland manager. "I picked the teams and I just made sure I was in the same team as the lads who haven't been playing - but I still think they were shooting at me.

"It was a long, hard day, physically demanding and very challenging.

"A lot of them, you'll be surprised to hear, are scared of heights, but they had to learn to climb up, hold each other and trust each other.

"Lads were holding you by the hand and you were wondering whether if they were really holding on - that was tough for me, I can tell you."

Dwight Yorke missed the trip, but says he would have loved to have been there to take a shot at his boss in the paintballing activities.

The striker-cum-midfielder also spoke about another former Manchester United colleague prior to Peter Taylor's visit to the Stadium of Light this evening.

Yorke admitted he empathises with David Beckham's decision to turn his back on the Premiership and La Liga to play his football in America.

The Trinidad and Tobago international revealed he turned his back on British football for reasons not too dissimilar to the former England captain.

"Everyone would have loved to see him back (in the Premier League), but there has been a lot of negative press for someone with his profile and what he has achieved in the game, so it doesn't come as a surprise he has gone to America," said the 35-year-old.

"I was winding things down (with my career) a little bit but even when I went to Australia I felt I could still play in the Premier League. But you get to the stage where you have achieved so much and the media doesn't help and I was ready for a fresh start, which Sydney offered me.

"I was glad I made the decision and only Roy Keane could have convinced me to come back.

"When someone of his magnitude wants you, you have to listen.

"There were other clubs from this country interested but it was only because of Roy and the club that I came back. I wouldn't have done it for anybody else.

"Mind you, there are times when he is shouting and screaming at me from the sidelines I wonder if I did the right thing."

Meanwhile, Steve Caldwell's future at the Stadium of Light is still open to conjecture.

Caldwell, who was stripped of the captain's armband in favour of Dean Whitehead, met Burnley boss Steve Cotterill at the weekend to thrash out a move to Turf Moor. But the negotiations collapsed and he remains a Sunderland player.

Keane yesterday made it known he was more than happy to see the Scotland international remain on Wearside for the remaining six months of his contract, but this situation has changed following new developments behind the scenes.

"He was given permission to speak to the club (Burnley) and he came back," revealed Keane. "I never wanted Steve to go.

"I got a call three weeks ago and I said he wasn't for sale, and then I got another one two weeks ago and I said he still wasn't for sale.

"But then things changed, certainly not instigated from the club's point of view.

"So I looked at the situation and I thought maybe it was best that we sold him.

"I think if we're trying to force players out and they want a few bob, that's all well and good but we're not looking for any players to leave.

"But when it's instigated from a third party, and the player is well aware of that, and the player wants a good few bob to go then I make a stance and I won't be having it."

l Championship leaders Derby County have signed 21-year-old Blackburn defender James McEveley for £600,000.

Rams boss Billy Davies said: ''We are delighted to have Jay. He is an excellent young player who gives us great competition - and we're looking forward to working with him.''