Keane offers a welcome to his new mate Mick

But Keane uttered it this week and thankfully it was the only comment required on their second meeting as managers.

Scroll down to read more:

Keane knows his promotion rivals pose a serious threat without being drawn into a story he described as "boring".

This is the business end of the season, the time when the adrenaline surely kicked in at Manchester United. "No," he said. "By this stage, the title had usually been won." And he meant it.

His concern with McCarthy today is his team.

Sunderland are third and on Thursday Keane was named Coca-Cola Manager of the Month for a successive time (and was just as ungrateful).

Former Sunderland and Ireland boss McCarthy returns to Wearside with sixth placed Wolves who are on the back of last week's shock 6-0 home defeat to Southampton. Points are stake but there might be some pride as well.

"If we don't perform, they'll win but if we perform they will have to play extremely well to beat us," he said. "Mick's done a good job and their results have been as good as anyone near the top." Keane, who takes his side to Southampton on Monday, has enjoyed financial backing in the transfer market which is beyond McCarthy's dreams at the Stadium of Light and Molineux and most managers in the Championship, but there is no questioning most of his record so far.

"It was difficult at the start, because I was chopping and changing, giving players opportunities," he said looking back on his arrival in August when Sunderland were 21st.

"Some players took their chances, others didn't. Where we are now is credit to the players and staff, because they've taken on board what I've tried to get across. The players deserve all the credit in the world. They've been fantastic.

"I think I've been very lucky. The priority for me was to get a good team spirit and good characters in the dressing room. With that, I felt we could go anywhere. That's why I brought in the players I did, players I'd played with. The new signings have settled in and all done well and it was important that the lads already here played their part and they certainly have."

Happy then Roy? "I don't think I'll ever be happy. It's not in my nature, not in my blood. I get glimpses of it. I might allow myself a smile for about ten seconds if we go up."

Sunderland's impressive run has taken them to within touching distance of Derby and Birmingham.

There will be some serious money changing hands on Wearside and in Ireland if Sunderland can bridge that gap to the top two. They were 25-1 for automatic promotion when Keane took over.

Keane added: "I've tried to change the mentality of the players, believing and trusting each other, that's what our whole training is based on, our preparation and recovery and some of my man management skills have hopefully helped."

McCarthy, making his first return to the Stadium of Light since his sacking last year, ended the spat that divided Ireland five months ago when he shook hands with Keane before the first meeting of these two teams at Molineux earlier in the season.

And now he is full of praise for Keane, saying: "I can't do anything but admire the Roy has done. Anyone that did would be foolish. He got the job last September. It has been a success all the way. It's nice to have a few quid to spend. You still have to get the right blend. I know there wasn't a bad squad at the club when they went down. He has added to it and made it better.

"I had a great time up there. I was disappointed I didn't have the wherewithal to do it in the Premiership. There's no point dressing it up otherwise. But I meant what I said when I left. It was a privilege to manage the club."