SUNDERLAND 10 YEARS AGO: Alnwick move to Spurs confirmed, Brown out again

Here's what the Echo was reporting 10 years ago.

ALNWICK OFF TO SPURS

Keane confirms that keeper will move in January

Ben Alnwick’s career at Sunderland looks over, Roy Keane confirmed today.

The wantaway Black Cats keeper looks as if he has got his wish to move on come the January transfer window as part of the deal which is likely to bring Spurs keeper Marton Fulop to Sunderland on a permanent basis.

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Sunderland are also expected to pick up in the region of £1m as part of the deal.

Manager Keane said today: “Ben has been frustrated at not playing first team football recently. He has been to see me a few times, so it looks as though he’ll be going on his way.

“It looks as though it’s a done deal, but you never say for certain in this business because there’s always something that can go wrong.”

The England Under 21 keeper – a target both for Tottenham and North London rivals Arsenal over the last season – has held talks with Spurs. And although nothing will happen in the next few weeks, come the January transfer window Alnwick should end up at White Hart Lane.

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His move in one direction will see the permanent move of Fulop in the other direction.

Keane said: “Marton has joined us on loan until January but yes, we definitely want to take him on full time.

“He’s a very big lad at 6’ 5” and I think that’s important in this division when you have so many crosses coming in and high balls into the box.

“He’s a young keeper who is hungry and ambitious to do well and he’s exactly the sort of player that we want here.”

BROWN RULED OUT AGAIN

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Sunderland will have to do without the physical presence of Chris Brown for tomorrow night’s game against QPR.

And manager Roy Keane revealed today that he was also far from certain of being to call on fellow big man Daryl Murphy.

He said: “Chris Brown is definitely out of the game.. He went over on his ankle not once but twice in training, and although we took him down with us to Wolves, his ankle swelled right up and there was no way he could play.

“The same applied to tomorrow’s game, but we might have better news on Daryl Murphy. He has been struggling of late, but he’s working his way back to fitness and he might have a chance for tomorrow.”

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One player who looks certain to be available though is Grant Leadbitter, who didn’t train at all last week but was still involved in Friday’s draw at Wolves.

Keane said: “Grant’s a naturally fit lad and so he was able to get through the game for us. He doesn’t seem to have had any reaction, so he’ll come into consideration again for tomorrow’s game.”

However, fellow midfielder Dwight Yorke is in doubt.

Keane said: “Dwight was struggling a bit on Friday and that’s why we took him off at half-time. He wasn’t well before the game and he went to see the doctor, but I know he wouldn’t want to use that as an excuse.

“The fact is that he has had a lot of games since he came here and we have to remember that he’s 35 years of age now and involved in a division in which there’s an awful lot of games.”