Sunderland boss Roy Ramblers on about the pitfalls of being promoted

Keane's first club return to the top flight of Irish football tonight, with a visit to fellow-promoted Finn Harps and Keane will send good luck messages to his former club, which also blooded Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland.

Scroll down for more

The former Ireland captain is still a frequent visitor to the Ramblers' Colman's Park and intends to take in one of the eircom League games, once Sunderland have secured their place in the English top division.

Making a clear reference to his own side's battles, Keane said: "It will be tough for them but it is tough for any team that gets promoted.

"I saw them a couple of times last season when they were going for promotion and it is great they are up there but it is going to be a tough season for them, although they have some good young lads coming through."

Trinidad and Tobago winger Carlos Edwards hopes to return to action after recovering from a broken leg when Sunderland play Manchester United this week.

"We have missed him," said Keane. "Only when you see someone back in training do you realise how much you have missed them."

Keane is still hoping the former Luton winger will be withdrawn from the next Trinidad squad after his recall with Kenwyne Jones yesterday.

Sunderland are looking to avenge their 7-1 thrashing at Goodison Park earlier in the season when David Moyes takes his side to the Stadium of Light on Sunday afternoon.

Keane admitted he got his team wrong at Everton that day, but he has more than made up for it since - completely changing the back four of Whitehead, McShane, Higginbotham and Harte which was humiliated that day.

He added: "It is all a learning experience and in defence of the players I got the call wrong. I picked the wrong team and the wrong shape and should have changed it but my attitude was even at 5-1 we could still win 6-5. May be at 6-1 it was all over.

"That was a reality check for me and we got a hiding that day against a much better team but there is no shame in that. It is gone now which is beauty of football. You move on.

"Everton have been outstanding. David Moyes gives us all hope in the way he has built that squad. He was involved in a relegation dogfight himself a few years ago when I spoke to him after leaving United and they work as hard as any team. When you have that formula, you have a chance, trust me."

The Sunderland manager is also looking to recover from last weekend's score bore at Derby when his side were denied three points after referee Mike Riley and his assistant ruled out Michael Chopra's legitimate goal for offside.

Keane said: "I have been disappointed with attitude towards the club. I am told by people in football that things will even themselves out but the way things are going they won't all we are asking for is fairness and we have not been given that.

"And I haven't got a clue why. I managed to speak to the referee and his assistant and I knew goal was onside because Chops had timed his run to perfection. You hope they even themselves out but it won't. At Reading, Villa and Blackburn we could have won but we have to get our head round it. It has cost this club four or five points."