Blackburn boss Mark Hughes is convinced Roy Keane's no-nonsense approach will stand him in good stead for life in the dugout as he prepares to come face to face with his former Manchester United team-mate today.

Hughes takes his team to Sunderland looking to get back on track in the Barclays Premier League after last week's defeat to Portsmouth all too aware of the drive and determination which will have been instilled in his opponents.

Hughes, who played alongside Keane for two seasons at Old Trafford, said: ''Roy was one of the top players of his generation and I am sure he can have the same sort of success as a manager.

''He always had an opinion and was very forthright, and maybe on occasions he spoke before he should have, and that got him into trouble. But that's his character and he doesn't suffer fools.

''Sometimes those are the qualities you need to have as a manager, and I think the qualities Roy has shown in the past are the ones he is also going to show in the future if he is to succeed.''

Hughes believes the real test of Keane's managerial credentials starts now, as he bids to build on last season's extraordinary success in the Coca-Cola Championship and establish the Black Cats in the Premier League.

''It's always important when you come up in your first season to have a decent start and they have picked up a number of good points in recent games,'' said Hughes.

''Last season was a fantastic achievement for Roy but when you come into a harder league it is about how you react to losing, how you get your players up for the next game and keep their confidence levels high.''

Rovers' own confidence will have been boosted by their midweek Carling Cup win over Birmingham, which followed successive defeats against Larissa in the UEFA Cup and at home to Portsmouth last Sunday.

With Benni McCarthy, Robbie Savage and Morten Gamst Pedersen all returning, he hopes to build on the win over the Blues, saying: ''Those three players have played in most of the games this season so I gave them a break and I am sure they have all been helped by that."