ROY KEANE last night suggested Craig Gordon is dispelling the theory that all goalkeepers are mad and claimed the most expensive goalkeeper in British history has emerged as Mr Popular at Sunderland.

Gordon returned to Wearside after his heroics in Scotland's win in France on Wednesday night which has left his country top of their European Championship qualifying group.

It was a team performance that has led to claims it is the most impressive result in Scotland's proud history.

But it was also an occasion in which Gordon added further value to the eyebrow-raising £9m transfer fee Sunderland agreed to pay Hearts in the summer.

And Keane, responsible for persuading chairman Niall Quinn to invest so much on a keeper who does not turn 25 until December, expects Gordon to keep improving.

"Craig is a bargain," said Keane, as a wry smile rose across his face. "The time to judge will be over a number of years, I didn't worry too much about the money involved.

"He is a young keeper, with a hell of a lot still to do and is improving all of the time. The experience he has with Scotland (25 caps) will do him the world of good.

"Without doubt, you try not to get carried away and especially here I try to keep his feet on the ground, but you talk about keepers maturing and reaching peaks, so we are hopeful there is more to come from him. For us and for him."

Having spent over a decade at Manchester United, Keane had the privilege of working with goalkeeping great Peter Schmeichel.

The Dane struck fear into his team-mates with his outbursts, but was regarded as one of the best.

And, although stopping short of predicting such a rise for Gordon, Keane feels his own No 1 at Sunderland has the potential to hit the very top.

"Everyone will tell you goalkeepers are a strange type anyway but Craig is the most normal I have ever come across," said Keane, whose biggest task could be to retain his services if he continues in the manner he has shown since his move.

"He is not eccentric and he is popular with the other guys. He does not rant and rave, although that could come later on because he has only been here two minutes.

"A goalkeeper that dominates with his personality will come, I'm sure. He will prove value for money."

Keane is hopeful of selecting his strongest back four in tomorrow's Premier League fixture with Reading at the Stadium of Light, with the only debate likely to be whether to play Ian Harte or Danny Collins at left-back.

But Carlos Edwards is out for a further month with more hamstring trouble. And with Kieran Richardson and captain Dean Whitehead also out for three and six months respectively, the width Keane had been looking for has been eradicated.

"We have had a bit of bad luck but it's important we focus on the players available. People are fed up of hearing about it and I know that people are aware we have been unlucky," said Keane.

"I don't under-estimate the loss of Carlos and Dean. If there was two I didn't want to lose at the start of the season they would have been at the top, even more so now that Kenwyne Jones is on board."

Keane also revealed that Andrew Cole will not be available to make his debut for three weeks, meaning that his front two against Reading will almost certainly be Michael Chopra and Jones.