Keane: Anton can shine at Sunderland

ROY KEANE believes joining Sunderland can help Anton Ferdinand fulfil the potential he showed at West Ham.

Ferdinand, 23, completed his move to the Stadium of Light club yesterday and signed a four-year contract.

The central defender has already been capped at England Under-21 level and has frequently been tipped to join brother Rio in the senior ranks.

Keane believes he can get the best out of the Londoner, who has become his ninth summer signing, following deals for Teemu Tainio, Pascal Chimbonda, Steed Malbranque, Nick Colgan, David Meyler, El-Hadji Diouf, David Healy and Djibril Cisse.

Keane said: “We needed to strengthen our defence and Anton is a great signing.

“He’ll bring quality and competition for places which is what we want, hopefully we can take him to another level here. He has come through the ranks at West Ham and maybe just needs a change.”

Sunderland have started their Premier League campaign with a home defeat to Liverpool and away win at Tottenham, and Ferdinand is likely to be available for the game at Wigan on September 13. He is currently recovering from a hamstring strain, and is convinced he has made the right move by heading north.

“It was hard leaving West Ham because I have been there for 16 years but after meeting Roy Keane I knew it was time for a change,” Ferdinand said. “This is a great challenge and I feel it is an exciting time at Sunderland. I think the move will do me good.”