"There have been initial talks. I signed a three-year deal (in August) because I was quite comfortable with that. I'm very happy here and I think we have the balance right with Niall and the board - they've shown me great support."

Not that Quinn ever doubted him. Still, amid all the praise for the wonders Keane has worked at Sunderland, what stands out is that so many across the water are still amazed he's actually turned out alright at this management lark.

Since Keane's side finally captured top spot for the first time with that comeback at Southampton on Easter Monday, the English media has been filled with profiles of how exactly this one-time 'thug' has transformed from an uppity caricature to such an upstanding character. Hadn't they read his autobiography? It wasn't for nothing that one review at the time described it as football's answer to The Art Of War.

From getting your players to stand up straight to handling days when Coventry "play like Real Madrid", within those pages was Keane's managerial blueprint. And, once given the chance, he's enacted it with, well, military precision.

Keane was typically swift to prevent his squad from thinking promotion was assured.

Immediately after the game at St Mary's, he railed about how it's "not the time to reflect". It's for that very reason Sunderland are easily the best-equipped of the three sides still chasing automatic promotion to last the pace.

Whereas each of the others have shown signs of psychological frailty in the past few weeks, Keane has instilled his side with a relentless winning mentality.

Derby have lost their hold on top spot because of some sloppy draws, while faith seems to have abandoned Birmingham as they recently lost to Burnley and Barnsley, so much frustration evident in the Oakwell brawl.

Sunderland's run-in can hardly give those challengers much hope either with an away trip to Colchester looking like the only potential slipup. It's a fixture list only matched in ease by Derby's who should follow them in returning to the Premiership automatically.

Just four months ago, Keane was talking of following Derby's lead. Seems even he can't quite believe the turnaround.