SUNDERLAND boss Mick McCarthy will not have an opportunity to end a three-and-a-half-year stand-off with Roy Keane at the Stadium of Light today - but does not expect Manchester United to be weakened by the captain's non-appearance.

United arrive on Wearside this afternoon without their influential skipper - who last night quit international football - and his absence with a broken metatarsal means McCarthy's long wait for an apology goes on.

It was during the build up to the 2002 World Cup that Keane infamously voiced his frustrations about the Republic of Ireland's training facilities in the Far East, something McCarthy did not take lightly.

It led to the United midfielder returning to England without kicking a ball as McCarthy, then in charge of the Irish, guided his team to the last-16 of the competition without him.

Today Sir Alex Ferguson will select a side bereft of Keane but McCarthy does not believe the Irishman's unavailability should be a reason for Sunderland to be excited. Instead the Black Cats' manager has told his players to focus on trying to deal with the threat of those left to perform in his absence - Alan Smith, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Wayne Rooney.

"I dare say there might have been a few more people if he had been playing, a few Irish journalists who'd be chasing me rather than Brian Kerr, but yes, it has made my life easier this weekend," said McCarthy.

"I'll savour the time when I'm walking down the street and someone says 'oh look there's that bloke who sent home Roy Keane'. I'll be 70, walking down the street with my cap on, my bleeding whippet, my stick and my pipe and there'll still be someone saying it to me. I hope they are.

"But in football terms, having Roy Keane missing against us will not hurt Manchester United as much as it would hurt us to have one of our best players missing.

"I'm sure they will have Cristiano Ronaldo, van Nistelrooy, Rooney or Ryan Giggs doing something or other."

United are already ten points adrift of leaders Chelsea in the Premiership title race but head into today's encounter boasting a better away record than that at Old Trafford.

So far they have won three and drawn one of their four fixtures on their travels, while they have only won one of their home matches and have lost one.

McCarthy, whose side are full of confidence after taking five of a possible nine points in recent weeks, does not see any reason why Sunderland can't earn an against-all-odds victory.

"I don't think we were expected to beat Middlesbrough away were we? We ended up winning that 2-0," said McCarthy.

"It's bizarre because the teams we don't expect to pick up points from come to our place with the same feeling.

"I guess this is one of the games you'd not be expected to win but it is a game we'll hope to win and try to win. We won't just roll over because Man. United are visiting and let them go home with the points.

"Man. United's ambitions are slightly different. They are out to win the Premiership so they will have looked at the fixtures and thought if they are going to win the title they'll have to come to Sunderland and win. It will make for an interesting scrap."

With all experts insisting Chelsea will go on to win the league title for the second successive year, Sunderland are not about to write off the former champions' chances just yet.

Regardless of the position and poor form Ferguson's men are in, they still have a squad full of top-class internationals and millions of pounds worth of talent. And McCarthy, whose squad was assembled on a shoe-string budget in comparison, is not foolish enough to underestimate the size of today's task.

"Despite Chelsea's dominance in the Premiership, United remain, and will continue to be, one of the biggest clubs in the world, arguably the biggest," said McCarthy.

"They're still a team with swagger, self-belief and confidence that will be packed with top players. I don't think we should think they are not the same team. That would suit Sir Alex."

Sunderland's recent turnaround in results in their first season back in the top-flight has lifted spirits and instilled a sense of belief that relegation can be avoided come May.

And it is no coincidence that the upturn in fortunes has coincided with Tommy Miller finding his feet in front of goal.

The free signing from Ipswich has scored in each of his side's last two games, recapturing the sort of form which made him a household name in the Championship at Portman Road.

"I spoke to Tommy Miller and one of the reasons I brought him to this club was his scoring record," said McCarthy.

"Perhaps earlier on, with the way we were playing and him not having a defensive midfielder like we've had with Christian Bassila, he had been a bit reluctant to get forward. But he and Dean Whitehead played really well against West Ham."

After striker Stephen Elliott's goal for the Republic of Ireland a week ago, McCarthy wants the young striker to follow Miller's lead in front of goal.

"Stephen has made huge strides and his workrate is great," said McCarthy, likely to pair Elliott with Andy Gray again today.

"He runs into the channels, he's a pest to defenders and he will get chances and score, as was proved in Cyprus - that was only half a chance. He'll have enjoyed that. He's capable of scoring goals."

* Keane last night issued a statement following his decision to quit international football.

''Like all football supporters in the country, I am disappointed that the Republic of Ireland failed to qualify for the World Cup finals despite the efforts of Brian Kerr, his staff and the squad," he said.

''I believe recent criticism of Brian in the media is unjust and unfair. I would like to thank the players and staff for their efforts. Much as I would like to continue playing for my country, I feel the time has come to retire from international football and concentrate on domestic football for the remainder of my career. I would like to thank everyone for the support they have given me throughout my international career.''

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