The 36-year-old Sunderland boss heads for Manchester United for the first time this evening to pitch himself into battle with Sir Alex Ferguson.

For more than 12 years the fiery Scot and his captain ensured their club maintained a stranglehold on English football in a hugely successful partnership.

However, while Keane gratefully acknowledges the education he received from both Ferguson and Brian Clough, who nursed him through his early days at Nottingham Forest, he is adamant he will do things his own way.

He said: "They were both fantastic managers. They were obviously different types of manager, but the important thing was they were both winners.

"Brian Clough was an absolute genius to achieve what he did with the teams he did and the players he gelled together.

"It was absolutely fantastic the way he treated me and handled me in my first three years. No doubt it wasn't easy, but hopefully he has passed on some good stuff to me.

"I count my blessings every day that I played under two fantastic managers, but obviously I have got to be my own man and that's what I will be trying to do throughout the remainder of my managerial career, however long that might be.

"If you have not picked up and learnt from the likes of Alex Ferguson and Brian Clough, then you have got to look at yourself."

Keane and Ferguson share the same hunger for success and the younger man will hope he can muster up a similar talent to his former boss for dealing with adversity as he makes his return to Old Trafford.

Sunderland headed across the Pennines having taken their summer spending to in excess of £35million during a week which saw them dumped out of the Carling Cup at Luton on the back of successive Barclays Premier League defeats by Wigan and Liverpool.

New signings Kenwyne Jones and former United trainee Danny Higginbotham could be included, along with Red Devils old boys Dwight Yorke and Liam Miller, although Kieran Richardson and Paul McShane are both doubts and Andy Cole is unlikely to make the squad this weekend as he works towards full match fitness.

Keane's first task will be to ensure that his players do not run out already beaten.

He added: "Old Trafford is not a place to go and feel sorry for yourself. We cannot be doing that.

"If anything, we are looking forward to it. If we give 100%, if all the players give it everything and we are beaten, then you hold your hand up and say it wasn't to be.

"When you go to these big grounds - and it will be the same at Anfield and Chelsea and Arsenal - you have to make sure you are not beaten before a ball is kicked, because a lot of teams are."