The former Manchester United captain takes his side to fellow Championship outfit Peterborough tomorrow in the second round of the Carling Cup seeking a much-needed boost having failed to win a game in the league so far.

Saturday's 2-0 defeat at West Brom saw them continue a start which has seen them collect just one point from four games and Keane, who was a high-profile appointment at Portman Road mid-way through last season, insists he is relishing the challenge ahead.

Ahead of tomorrow's trip to London Road, Keane told his club's website itfc.co.uk: "The problem has been for us that we have had to deal with high expectations since we have been back and I've played a part in that. I'm an ambitious person and have talked about taking the team to promotion.

"We have to deal with those expectations but as bad as results have been, I think we are two or three players away from being a decent side and being back in the mix."

Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson has problems of his own, insisting his side must regain the defensive resilience which helped his side to promotion from League One last term.

After seeing his side lose at Preston at the weekend, Ferguson said: "Everyone talks about the forward power we have and the goals we have scored over the last two years, but the catalyst for our success has been the number of clean sheets we have kept.

"And that's something we need to start accomplishing again. I have no worries about the chances we will create ourselves, but defensively we have had problems."

He added: "It's something I must sort out quickly or we will continue to struggle."

Ferguson has no fresh injury concerns with Tommy Williams (groin) and Jamie Day (ankle) still out along with Chris Whelpdale (hernia) and Ben Wright (ankle).

Ipswich forward Pablo Counago is set for his first action of the season after a groin injury. There could also be recalls for Colin Healy and Damien Delaney who were both left out of the squad at the Hawthorns, while goalkeeper Richard Wright may be rested to allow new signing Arran Lee-Barrett to make his debut.

Keane will still be without Jaime Peters (ankle) and long-term absentees Luciano Civelli, Ben Thatcher and David Norris (all knee).

Other action involving Championship sides tomorrow includes Watford travelling to Leeds, Nottingham Forest hosting Middlesbrough, Sheffield Wednesday at Port Vale, Preston v Leicester, QPR v Accrington, Reading v Barnsley and Swansea v Scunthorpe.