Sunderland boss Roy Keane is confident of completing his first signing of this month's transfer window after watching his side slip back into the bottom three of the Premier League.

"We are hopeful, certainly with one player signing in the next 24 hours," said Keane.

"Hopefully that will then get the ball rolling for us to get in one or two more.

"We know where we are short at the moment, and that's why we are looking to try and strengthen.

"We've one or two playing with injuries, and one or two playing out of position like Dean Whitehead.

"So we're certainly being stretched, and we're only halfway through the season.

"But I've said it since pre-season when we went into the season definitely short of a couple of players, and then we had a few serious injuries to compound that.

"It means when an opportunity comes along to get something out of a game like this, we've not been good enough take it."

If Blackburn midfielder Robbie Savage is not the player on board by the weekend, then he is almost certainly likely to follow as he was not in the 16 on duty for the third successive match.

Although Keane last night denied his club had made a bid for the 33-year-old who is valued at £2million, there is no doubt they head a queue for his services that includes Derby, Wigan and Fulham.

Rovers boss Mark Hughes said: "I would suggest the clubs involved in this game will be speaking.

"It's well documented Sunderland have expressed an interest, although up to now they have not met our valuation of Robbie.

"They may well do that in the next couple of days and then we will make a decision, although other clubs have expressed an interest so it is not cut and dried at the moment.

"It's not a case, though, of trying to get Robbie out of the door as he has been great for us in his time here.

"But if we feel there is business to be done that can benefit us, then we would have to look at the money that is generated."

Another player likely to leave Ewood Park is striker Jason Roberts who has scored just seven goals in 40 appearances since a £3million move from Wigan 18 months ago.

Blackburn currently value the player at £4million, although at that price they may not find many takers.

"We're further down the line with Robbie in fairness," added Hughes.

"Although there has been interest in Jason's situation, nobody has come in and firmed up an offer."

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