Blackburn boss Mark Hughes is convinced Roy Keane's no-nonsense approach will stand him in good stead for life in dugout as he prepares to come face to face with his former Manchester United team-mate tomorrow.

Hughes takes his team to Sunderland looking get back on track in the Premiership after last week's defeat to Portsmouth but all too aware of the drive and determination which will have been instilled in his opponents.

Hughes, who played alongside Keane for two full seasons at Old Trafford, said: "Roy was one of the top players of his generation and I am sure he can have the same sort of success as a manager.

"He always had an opinion and was very forthright, and maybe on occasions he spoke before he should have and that got him into trouble. But that's his character and he doesn't suffer fools.

"Sometimes those are the qualities you need to have as a manager, and I think the qualities Roy has shown in the past are the ones he is also going to show in the future if he is to succeed."

Hughes believes the real test of Keane's managerial credentials starts now, as he bids to build on last season's extraordinary success in the Coca-Cola Championship and establish the Black Cats in the Premier League.

"It's always important when you come up in your first season to have a decent start and they have picked up a number of good points in recent games," Hughes added.

"Last season was a fantastic achievement for Roy but when you come into a harder league it is about how you react to losing, how you get your players up for the next game and keep their confidence levels high."

Rovers' own confidence will have been boosted by their fine midweek Carling Cup win over Birmingham, which followed two successive defeats against Larissa in the Uefa Cup, then at home to Portsmouth last Sunday.

Those results knocked the stuffing out of a bright start to the season for Hughes, but with Benni McCarthy, Robbie Savage and Morten Gamst Pedersen all returning, he hopes to build on the win over the Blues.

Hughes added: "Those three players have played in most of the games this season so it was important I gave them a break when I could and I am sure they have all been helped by that.

"It was important we got some strikes on goal in recent games and we had something like 29 against Birmingham. That was decent figures and that is something we hope to build on against Sunderland."