Keane wants Elliot to lead charge

ROY KEANE reckons Stephen Elliott could play in goal — and still get his name on the scoresheet.

Sunderland boss Keane wants the Republic of Ireland striker to keep “making up for lost time’ and fire the Black Cats into the Championship promotion pack.

Elliott has hit three goals in two starts since returning from a seven-week injury lay-off. The 22-year-old Dubliner struck twice in the 3-1 home win over Colchester and followed up with the equaliser in last Friday’s 1-1 draw against Mick McCarthy’s Wolves at Molineux.

Sunderland, who visit QPR tonight, are six points off a play-off place and Keane declared: “If you can get a striker in top form, it makes a hell of a difference. Steve’s done very well. You can see in games he’s getting stronger. Ideally, I wouldn’t have wanted to throw him in, especially the amount of minutes he’s been playing. He’s making up for lost time with the injuries he’s had. Besides the goals he’s scored, he’s been a threat. His first touch the other night at Wolves was excellent in some of the tight situations he was in.

“His record proves he’s scored goals in the Championship and hopefully he’ll be the one, along with David Connolly, to get into double figures for us.”

Keane refuses to rule out a return to Wearside for Jon Stead. The former Blackburn striker, who has scored only twice for Sunderland since his £1.8m move in the summer of 2005, has already grabbed three goals on loan at Derby. Keane said: “There’s been no discussion over a longer deal. We’re monitoring his progress.”

Keane watched Manchester United’s 1-1 home draw with Chelsea on TV on Sunday, and admitted it whetted his appetite for top-flight management.

The former United skipper said: “I watched it as a fan. I wasn’t studying the game, I was just enjoying it. Hopefully, we’ll be playing those sides next year. Watching them is something that drives you. I think every manager in the Championship is the same. The Premiership is where you want to be.”