Roy Keane is not ruling out Premiership debutants Hull City finishing in the top half and also wants his side Sunderland to do the same.

The Tigers are currently placed third in the table, only behind joint-toppers Chelsea and Liverpool, after having scored fine away-day victories over Arsenal and Tottenham to collect 14 points from seven games.

Keane’s Black Cats are meanwhile, in 14th place after winning just two of their opening seven matches, but the former Manchester United captain is surprised with Tottenham being at the bottom at the moment.

The former Irish midfielder is sure at the end of the season it would be top-four - Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal & Liverpool - taking their traditional places, while the likes of Hull could have disappointments along the way and Spurs can taste their share of ups.

“It's good for football. Not that Tottenham are bottom but in terms of the way Hull have come up and done well,” Keane told SAFC TV.

“It happened a few years ago when Reading first got promoted and it's great to see. It's going to be a long, hard season, we all know that. Every team will have its ups and downs and I'm sure Hull will have disappointments along the way.

“I'm pretty sure, come the end of the season, which teams will be in the top four, I'd be very surprised if any team was to break into that.

“But in terms of the other positions, if Hull keep going there's no reason why they can't finish in the top half, that's where we are aiming to go.”