ROY Keane has claimed that summer signing Michael Chopra is the 'predator' that Sunderland were lacking last season, and revealed that he is still hoping to make "two or three more additions" before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

Chopra opened his Black Cats account with a dramatic stoppage-time winner on Saturday that underlined his goalscoring instinct within the heart of the 18-yard box.

While other strikers might have slashed at Ross Wallace's right-wing cross, Chopra calmly nudged the ball out of his feet before curling a precise side-footed finish beyond England goalkeeper Paul Robinson.

And while the likes of David Connolly, Daryl Murphy and Anthony Stokes all played crucial roles in securing last-season's promotion to the Premier League, Keane admits that none of Sunderland's strikers boast the same predatory precision as his £5m signing from Cardiff.

"If you create chances for Michael Chopra, he will score," said the Black Cats boss, who fielded five of his summer recruits as his side made a winning return to the top-flight.

"Obviously the Premier League is a big challenge, but he knows where the back of the net is.

"The good strikers know that you're not going to get a couple of touches in the box, so you have to be decisive.

"When you look at almost all of the top strikers, a lot of their goals are scored from within the six-yard box, not 25 or 30 yards.

"The van Nistelrooys of this world and the Linekers - they scored most of their goals from around six yards, whether they were scrambles or parries from the goalkeeper.

"We probably didn't score enough of those goals last year and that's one area where we're really looking to improve. Michael got one chance and we won 1-0."

Chopra's stoppage-time strike was reminiscent of a number of the late goals that became a feature of Sunderland's success last season.

The Black Cats scored an incredible eight 90th-minute goals en route to be crowned Championship champions, but Keane has dismissed suggestions that such a record has more to do with luck than judgement.

"We've had a lot of late goals since I've been here," said the Irishman, who claimed that he would be celebrating Saturday's success with a "cup of green tea and a Time Out bar".

"But that's got nothing at all to do with luck. It's about refusing to settle for a draw and showing a never-say-die attitude.

"The players showed a great desire to keep getting in there with a minute to go.

"Other teams might have settled for a draw, and I suppose that might cost us in a few other games this season.

"But I was delighted to see that kind of work-rate and desire."

Keane's work-rate shows no sign of slowing, and the Sunderland boss remains keen to make further additions to his squad before the transfer window swings shut.

The Black Cats tabled a £7m bid for Spurs' Mido on Friday night, leading the London club to order the striker to break off his negotiations with Middlesbrough.

The Teessiders remain favourites to sign the 24-year-old, with Boro chief executive Keith Lamb insisting that his club still expect to complete a deal before this weekend.

Keane refused to comment on the situation but, while it appears Mido is one player who is likely to slip through Sunderland's grasp, he is unlikely to be the last transfer target approached this month.

"I've been saying this for a while now, but we probably still need two or three players to help with the squad," said the Irishman, who is prioritising the purchase of both a left-back and a right-back despite Ross Wallace and Dean Whitehead's performances at the weekend.

"Greg Halford went down injured three or four days ago and that meant Dean had to do a job at right-back. We played Ross at left-back, and Ross is really a left winger.

"Every club will have situations where they have call on one or two players to do a job, but I still think we're a bit light in one or two areas."