TWO years ago Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy geared up for the club's return to the Premier League by insisting nerves wouldn't be a problem.

Ten months, and just 15 points, later Sunderland were back in the Championship, McCarthy was out of a job, and the nerves on Wearside were over the Black Cats' very future.

Former chairman Bob Murray wanted out, more importantly the fans wanted him out, but a saviour was required - someone the fans could look up to.

There was one man who fitted the bill perfectly but it turned out the club actually needed two.

Niall Quinn's hallowed status at Sunderland was confirmed when he donated a £1m testimonial fund to worthy causes. He was revered when he left to pursue business interests back in Ireland, but when he persuaded a mainly Irish consortium of businessmen to invest in the Black Cats his iconic status was cemented.

Not even a disastrous spell as manager could damage him, and the appointment of Roy Keane was a masterstroke.

When Keane arrived Sunderland had just managed to drag themselves up to the dizzy heights of second bottom.

The play-offs looked a long-way off and automatic promotion wasn't even a pipe-dream.

Quinn admitted as much. The long-term plan was for promotion to the Premier League in 2008 but, despite arriving a year early, the club have backed their manager with the funds for new players.

Self-confidence is something that Keane plainly doesn't lack and he's determined to pass that on to his players.

No team he sends out will be allowed to be overawed by their opponents, and the 35- year-old will relish the mind games that have become such an important part of the Premier League "I think it can have a real effect, mind games, whether it be for your own team or the opposition," said Keane, who doesn't expect the same degree of cordiality he received from other managers in the Chanmpionship now he's arrived in the top-flight.

"You've seen that with Mourinho.

He did it very well although maybe not last year because a lot of people underestimate Alex Ferguson, believe it or not.

"It can take pressure off players, or it works either way.

It depends on what way you take it.

"Obviously a manager's job is to get the best out of his team and that can be in different ways, whether it be on the training pitch or saying something through the media.

"It's Premier League going to be a bit more lethal. I don't think it will be that friendly.

"You'll have to ask the other managers why that is but I want to upstage all of them.

Hopefully we'll upset one or two just like I get upset after we lose a game. I want to win matches.

"Sunderland have gone up there before and I got the impression they went to grounds and were bringing cameras and wanting to swap jerseys with teams instead of believing they're there on merit.

"We have to drill it into our players that you've earned the right to play these teams.

"You respect them, but you don't go in awe of any team. Far from it. I've always been quite switched on like that, even from a young age."

The popular view is that Keane is serving out his managerial apprenticeship before taking over from Ferguson at Old Trafford.

He has moved ahead of Mark Hughes in the bookies' eyes to step into Ferguson's shoes, but Keane knows there is a longterm plan at the Stadium of Light and he insists he wants to be part of it.

"What we're trying to do here is create history," said Keane.

"Someone mentioned the word survive but you won't find me using that.

"We're going into the Premier League to make our mark. We know it will be very, very hard but with the commitment and the attitude of the players I'm certain we will make our mark.

"The Sunderland supporters will have a massive part to play because there will be ups and downs like there were last season. They always reacted well to disappointments.

"We will give our best in every game starting against Tottenham.

"I think bring it on. Against Tottenham there will be an edge. I'm looking forward to it and I'd rather be facing Spurs than a Championship team.

"The challenge is set for the players but as I keep saying there are question marks over me, over my coaching staff, over my players.

"If we beat Tottenham you won't find me jumping off the stand celebrating too much and if we lose the game it's not the end of the world.

"It's going to be a process of building the club and that's what we're trying to do. We're trying to build and I'm lucky with the backing I've had and that I've been left alone to get on with the job."