WITH three potential right-backs ruled out of Monday's game at Manchester City, Roy Keane is considering handing 18-year-old novice Michael Kay a daunting debut at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Greg Halford and Paul McShane are both suspended while Dean Whitehead remains a fortnight away from full fitness.

Both Dickson Etuhu and Grant Leadbitter have performed as stand-in full-backs during this week's sessions but, with neither boasting any defensive experience, Keane is considering a more daring option as he attempts to guide his side to their first away win of the season.

Shotley Bridge-born Kay, an England Under-17 international, impressed in the right-back berth as Sunderland's reserves ground out a 1-0 win over Wigan on Tuesday.

The teenager, who attended St Bede's School in Lanchester and has been on Sunderland's books since the age of eight, is regarded as one of the most promising players in the club's Academy.

And while in-form winger Martin Petrov lies in wait for whoever is given the nod on Monday night, Keane insists he is confident Kay is capable of handling the considerable step up in class.

"It's something we might look to do," revealed the Black Cats boss, who has been present at Kay's last two reserve outings. "We've obviously got a problem at right-back, and playing Michael would not concern me.

"I wouldn't be concerned about playing any young player if I thought they were good enough. Whether we think Michael has done enough to warrant a place, we'll have to wait and see.

"I saw him in the reserves game this week, and he was involved in the (senior) squad against Manchester United. It's something we'll have to have a look at over the next couple of days, but I wouldn't have a problem with playing one of the young lads. If anything, I'm keen to get them involved."

Unsurprisingly, Keane is also desperate to welcome back two of the long-term absentees that were so pivotal to his side's success in the Championship last season.

Both Whitehead and Carlos Edwards have been sidelined since the 2-2 draw at Birmingham on August 15, and their absence has left the Black Cats midfield bereft of a creative influence.

The pair remain at least a fortnight away from a first-team return, despite easing their way back into training this week. But, with Andrew Cole also approaching full fitness, there is finally some light at the end of a troublesome tunnel.

"Andy, Dean and Carlos have all been back on the training pitch this week," confirmed Keane. "They haven't done a full session, but they've certainly played a part.

"As far as the game on Monday is concerned, forget about it. But it's still been great to see them out there getting involved."

Nobody was 'getting involved' on the training pitch yesterday, as the entire Sunderland squad competed in a series of go-karting races at Durham.

The club's latest team building exercise followed rafting, rock climbing and paintballing.

The rock climbing expedition came shortly after Keane replaced Niall Quinn last August, and by observing his players' reactions to the challenges they were asked to overcome in an alien environment, he was able to form opinions that ultimately shaped his policies regarding transfers and selection.

"I like seeing the players going out and doing something a little bit different," said Keane, who admitted he did not attend yesterday's go-karting session in order to avoid his kart being "pushed into the wall". "You see different parts of their character.

"When I first got the job, we went climbing and it taught me a lot about some of the players. I had one or two doubts about people, and those doubts were confirmed when they wouldn't climb the bloody thing.

"Mind you, we made sure they did it eventually and then we left them there!

"I guarantee that the people who were involved (in the go-karting) would have wanted to win. I like having that and, when we've done the other stuff like paintballing, there's always been an element of winning involved.