Sunderland 1 - 1 Arsenal

Sunderland v Arsenal: Preview

Updated: October 3, 2008, 4:14 PM UK

Sunderland manager Roy Keane admits he feels like a baby when he finds himself thrust into competition with the likes of Arsene Wenger.

The 37-year-old Irishman will go head-to-head with the Arsenal boss on Saturday - a little more than two years into his management career.

Midfielder Liam Miller (groin) is struggling to make the encounter and could join Teemu Tainio (shoulder), Phil Bardsley (ankle) and Grant Leadbitter (broken nose) on the sidelines.

Striker Kenwyne Jones (knee) is back in training but is still some way away from a return.

Keane stepped on to a steep learning curve when he accepted Niall Quinn's offer of employment, but has simply enhanced his reputation by dragging the Black Cats back into the Barclays Premier League at the first attempt and then keeping them there.

However he will be given a reminder of how much he, and the likes of Middlesbrough counterpart Gareth Southgate and Blackburn's Paul Ince, still have to learn when he and Wenger lock horns at the Stadium of Light.

Keane said: "You are pitting your wits against these brilliant clubs and these managers, like Martin O'Neill last week.

"They have vast experience and I feel like a baby, really, just starting out.

"But that's the challenge we face, myself and people like Gareth and Incey. It's good though.

"Hopefully these managers won't keep going on forever and they will move on soon and give us a chance.

"But they are absolutely brilliant managers, and they will be remembered more so when they are gone than they are at the moment.''

Keane has worked hard behind the scenes to establish a scouting network around the world and he currently has people working for him in 13 different countries.

However, he admits it will be a long time before he can boast the kind of set-up which has enabled Wenger to unearth a series of previously undiscovered gems for the Gunners.

He said: "Arsene Wenger, as much as he has spent, has not spent anywhere near as maybe some of the other big clubs on the players he has brought in and sold on for a rofit.

"That's something we have to look at as a football club. We are not capable of continuing to spend £20million, £25million, £30million every transfer window.

"That's where your scouting network pays off, and that is something we are looking to improve.

Meanwhile, he insists talks over his new contract, which began last week, are the least of his priorities.

Keane said: "There were talks last week and that's the start of it. But I am so relaxed about it, you wouldn't believe.

"These things take shape when they are good and ready.''

Wenger, meanwhile, always felt Keane had the right "ingredients'' to make a successful manager and maintains it will not be long before some of his Arsenal old boys make an impression in the dugout.

Having learned under one of the games' all-time greats in Sir Alex Ferguson, Wenger believes the likes of Keane can go on to make a success as a coach at the top level.

"He has done well in his first year. You see already when he was a player that there are ingredients in there that make a manager,'' said Wenger.

"A management career is a marathon, but he has the qualities to become a great manager.''

Arsenal expect to have midfielder Alex Song available for the clash at the Stadium of Light following a hip problem.

The Gunners have no fresh injury worries following the midweek European win over Porto as they look to bounce back from the shock home defeat by Hull.

Abou Diaby (thigh) is a couple of weeks away from a return but Tomas Rosicky (hamstring), Amaury Bischoff (groin) and striker Eduardo (leg) all remain in recovery.

Wenger feels it is only a matter of time before there will be one of his old Gunners in a Premier League hot-seat.

While men such as former captains Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry remain active, there are some members of Wenger's all-conquering squad from the turn of the century to have already made a step into management.

Former captain Tony Adams is currently assistant at Portsmouth having helped guide them to FA Cup glory last season, while Harry Redknapp's predecessor at Fratton Park, Alain Perrin, the former Lyon manager, worked with Wenger at AS Nancy.

"There are a few already working in France, and while there is no-one in England yet, some of them are very close,'' he said.

"We have Tony Adams who is assistant at Portsmouth and Nigel Winterburn is coaching at Blackburn. Steve Bould is an important coach here in the Arsenal academy.

"Dennis Bergkamp is taking his coaching badges to go into the job and the rest are very young."