Football FanCast columnist Rob Facey looks at the shortlist of strikers on Roy Keane's list following the news that Kenwyne Jones' injury will rule him out until the New Year.

Roy Keane has been very outspoken since he became Sunderland manager, however he has been awfully quiet when it comes to transfers this summer.

This has now been made all the worse with the news that star striker Kenwyne Jones' injury is worse than initially diagnosed and he could not be back in action until January. It is unclear how much cash is available at The Stadium of Light, but a striker must be top of Keane's hit list.

Jones' goals ensured the club remained in the Premier League last year as promoted clubs always have an issue scoring goals. This was not the case for Keane's team but now that the man responsible is crocked the club need to move quick.

"The next two or three weeks are a vital part of the future of Sunderland and my future," Keane said, as reported in The Mirror.

"I know they are working extremely hard and had some very good bids turned down.

"It's all very well trying hard and nearly having these deals. The real dealmakers get over the line.

"Supporters say we don't get these deals done and history tells you we don't, but that's why I'm here - to change history."

Changing history may be a bit much at the moment but, if the club do pull of these transfers and cement themselves in the Premier League then there will be relatively little holding them back. After being a yo-yo club, Sunderland has the potential to ‘do a Portsmouth' and steadily move up the table. That is assuming that they spend wisely in the market and attract the right sort of players to the club, rather than rush into deals for the sake of it as a lot of clubs do in the pre-season.

"I'm confident Niall can get the deals we're after, perhaps in the next 48 hours.

"I want real quality, players who have handled the Premier. I'm hoping to get five or six players I'm interested in."

But who should they be looking at? What Jones' offers is a rare trio of qualities; strength, speed and genuine quality and for Sunderland, who for years had the more traditional partnership of Little and Large (Phillips and Quinn) finding a replacement is proving harder than it seems.

Darren Bent

Louis Saha


Andrew Johnson

These are three names that have been constantly linked with Sunderland every given week and all available at the right price, but whom would be the fans ideal choice to fill the boots of Kenwyne Jones? Or would you rather the club looked elsewhere?