ROY KEANE will reach the half century mark as Sunderland manager at Middlesbrough later today but he does not care whether the members of his playing staff see eye to eye off the pitch.

But, after sending the Black Cats squad on a team-bonding exercise at an assault course in Richmond this week, Keane insists those he has around him are forming a togetherness intent on succeeding.

Given the huge turnaround in playing staff at the Stadium of light over the summer, in which £36m was spent on new faces, there has inevitably been a phase of familiarisation.

However, after the first of many outdoor pursuit exercises this season, Keane has experienced a rise in team spirit over the last couple of days in training and hopes it will continue.

The Irishman, whose side have claimed seven points from their opening six matches in the Premier League, insists that there was nothing particularly wrong - just that working relationships needed to be worked on.

Keane wants to see a return to the brotherhood on Wearside which led to Championship glory last season, when Sunderland remarkably ended up top of the pile after starting off in the relegation zone under him.

He does not expect the mentality to turn overnight but he is looking for his men to show their appreciation to one another at the Riverside Stadium later today.

"You see lots of clubs with lots of top players but if they haven't got that bond and spirit, you'll achieve nothing," said Keane, who has won 28 from his 50 matches at the helm. "I've been involved in very good dressing rooms and some that were not so good.

"Come the crunch you want good spirit amongst you. On these assault courses you want team-mates who are going to do stuff they're not necessarily comfortable doing.

"I'd look at lads next to me when I was at United and think, 'I don't like you that much but I'm glad you're in my team.' I've got great pals in football I've never ever been out for a drink with or met their families or anything like that. But I'm glad I played with them. I'm glad I had them beside me on the pitch and in the dressing room."

Sunderland's players know who they are working for; they have come to realise Keane is monitoring their actions even if he is not on the training field dishing out orders.

But the former United captain suggests it has taken time to fill the void left by the departures of a couple of big characters from last season - something he feels has been done now.

"I wouldn't say the team spirit wasn't there, I just felt we were building something new again," he said. "Last year it was amazing how quickly the players gelled.

"We lost two massive players in Jonny Evans and Danny Simpson - not necessarily on the pitch, but they were two popular lads amongst the players. I brought a lot of new lads in and we've not been able to get that spirit.

"What way do I see this spirit? I can see things on the training pitch, in the dressing room, when we're travelling. I pick up stuff. It wasn't anything bad, it was just taking time to settle down, especially for the new lads. Sometimes it takes time to build up bonds between the players and the staff but I've been a lot happier with the last couple of months."

Keane and his opposite number this afternoon, Gareth Southgate, are both at similar stages of their managerial careers, having both retired at the end of the 2005-06 season.

The pair have embarked on their coaching courses to gain the required UEFA Pro Licence qualification, although undoubtedly they have different styles.

But Keane feels the general perception that he is the hot-tempered one of the two, with Southgate being the soft touch, could be totally misguided.

"The difference between us is that he went straight into it at Boro," said Keane. "Gareth had his mind on becoming a manager. I have bumped into him and think he has done reasonably well.

"You have to be tough. All the top managers need that streak running through them but that is not to say you cannot be nice, look at me, I can be nice as well.

"But don't be fooled by Gareth that he is completely 100 per cent nice guy. I am sure he is able to make harsh decisions, moving people on and the like. You have got to be tough to be in this job. Gareth had a very good career and I am sure he will go on to become a top manager."

Graham Kavanagh has joined Sheffield Wednesday on a month's loan. The Republic of Ireland international will make his debut in the Championship fixture with Hull City today