DESPITE only spending three days in the company of his new Sunderland team-mates, Danny Higginbotham has given the impression that he likes to talk.

And that, after an impressive debut at the heart of the Black Cats defence at Old Trafford, is something being welcomed on Wearside. Goalkeeper Craig Gordon, for one, feels it is exactly what was required.

While all eyes were focused on what United legends Roy Keane and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer were up to inside the Theatre of Dreams, it was the lesser known former Red Devil turning in a memorable performance.

Higginbotham, who spent time under Sir Alex Ferguson after graduating from the United academy, kept a new-look Sunderland defence in check - much to the frustration of Carlos Tevez and company.

And Gordon believes the 28-year-old could well become a permanent fixture in the Sunderland side, meaning Paul McShane will continue to occupy the right-back slot.

"Danny was very good," said Gordon, who himself as made a sound start to life under Keane. "It can be difficult to come in and make your debut, especially at a place like this, but he did very well.

"He is clearly a good talker, he communicates with those around him and that is going to help all of the lads. That was evident on Saturday.

"It could have been more difficult to go into a game with a new centre-back, in a new defence, but they are all good players in front of me and they adapt to whatever is put their way. We did extremely well with Danny in there and he is a very good addition to the squad."

Gordon, the most expensive British goalkeeper, turned in another display against Manchester United that suggests Keane was right to spend such huge sums on him.

The Scotland international, who joins up with his country ahead of this week's qualifier with Lithuania, made a number of good saves to thwart United.

The pick of the bunch was when he got down low to his right to get a firm hand to Louis Saha's turning volley in the second half.

And Gordon, who is used to the big occasion having played against Celtic and Rangers for Hearts, has quickly adapted to life in the English Premier League.

"No matter where you play it's just a game of football," said Gordon, looking back on his first visit to Old Trafford. "It's great to come to grounds like this and play but you still have to do your job.

"You don't try to think of anything else but performing to the best you can.

"I am satisfied with how it's been going for me at Sunderland. There will be games when I will not have to make as many saves, like at home when we will do more attacking. But I am enjoying it and we will see how things pan out."

Gordon cut a dejected figure when Saha's header worked its way into his near post with 19 minutes remaining, after Sunderland had looked on course to claim a point.

But the 24-year-old, whose only clean sheet since his arrival was on the opening day against Tottenham, will not be worrying for too long about ending pointless.

Instead he chooses to look to the future, and the visit of Reading after the two week international break.

"We arrived there with a lot of new players and we kept United out for long periods," he said. "That one goal came from a very good delivery.

"I don't tend to over-analyze things. We move onto the next game and there is no point thinking about what might have been. There are enough positives we can take from the first five games whereby we can think we will do OK. We played well here.

"There is no need for concern after four defeats. We have had a difficult start and now we are looking at the matches in front of us and we are determined to get the points that will take us up the table.

"It's about turning in good performances and if we do that the points will come. We believe we have good players here and we are determined to prove that. We feel we can go on from here."

Meanwhile, it has emerged that Dundee United made an 11th hour move for young Irishman Roy O'Donovan. But a season long-loan move was held up at the last minute