AFTER warning his Sunderland players he is watching their every move, manager Roy Keane has come to realise the true worth of having chatter-box Steve Caldwell in his ranks - even if he is yet to play.

The trip to Hull City this afternoon could have arrived too soon for the injured Caldwell to make his return, despite emerging from just over an hour's football for the reserves in midweek unscathed.

But the club captain, who has not played since hobbling off in the defeat to Birmingham on August 9, has made an impression on the manager he has yet to play for at the Stadium of Light.

Keane is continuing a process of change on Wearside, where he has been looking to alter the feel of the club from grassroots level upwards.

And, along with changing the decor at the Academy of Light and restructuring the coaching and scouting staff, he is determined to make the dressing room a place where it is good to talk.

Since being appointed, he has recruited the likes of Graham Kavanagh and Dwight Yorke and has asked them to be strong individuals on the training field and in the build up to matches.

Keane has also witnessed why Kevin Ball, during his days as caretaker boss, handed Caldwell the captaincy, even though the former Newcastle and Leeds defender has not kicked a ball in the Championship since the Irishman's arrival.

And Keane wants that attitude to his skipper's role to continue and help to ensure the whole dressing room becomes a more vibrant place before, during half-time and after matches.

"We're a relatively quiet team," said Keane. "You get different traits, a noisier dressing room will evolve players and it doesn't have to be everyone shouting their mouths off without a purpose. You need traits where players trust each other and characters that lift one another.

"I want lads who will run through a brick wall for you, literally. The dressing room's coming together more, it takes time and I'm learning about the players.

"On the bus some lads want a video, some want a game of cards, you're learning all the time. I'm watching them all the time and they're probably watching me, sussing each other out.

"Like a lot of Scottish players, Steve likes to talk and he's a leader, which is good for me with his influence. I'd like to see him out on the pitch."

Just days after taking his first step into management at Sunderland, Keane revealed he was looking to put framed impressions of yesteryear on the walls around the training ground and in the walkway up to the tunnel.

That is something which, as well as 'waiting for the frames', is with the IT department and Keane is also considering the odd motivational poster in an attempt to keep Sunderland heading upwards in the Championship.

"It's not going to turn us into Brazil, but just little changes help," he said.

Keane's aims are hardly being helped by the fact he has been unable to field the same starting XI in successive games since taking over in August.

The three-month lay-off faced by Kenny Cunningham, after sustaining knee ligament damage against Barnsley, means changes are afoot again at the KC Stadium today.

Hull, a point adrift at the bottom of the Championship, offers Sunderland a chance to end three successive defeats on the road and improve on just two away victories.

"I'm not sure about the mental barrier away from home," said Keane. "The first half against Preston was a shocker, very disappointing, but we could have got something from Stoke and I'm sure it's not a mental thing.

"You've got to get something away from home if you want to get anywhere. We're getting a decent home record. There's no problem mentally."

Keane does warn of underestimating the Tigers, though. He added: "Hull are a better side than their league position suggests. We think we are but look at where we are.

"There's more danger when a team's at the bottom and they just go for it. You think you should go and win the game but football doesn't work that way. But if we do our homework and are focused we've got a chance."