Keane takes lead role in tale of two strikers

While the Tottenham striker Robbie Keane was fluffing his lines in the midweek Worthington Cup defeat to Burnley, Sunderland's Marcus Stewart produced a word-perfect performance as he led his side's fightback with two goals in the win against Arsenal at Highbury. Yet Keane will once again be given a leading role against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light today with stand-in Stewart almost certain to be back in the wings.

Tottenham's manager Glenn Hoddle has given the Irish international his full backing despite missing a hat-trick of chances in the 2-1 defeat at Turf Moor. "As long as Robbie keeps on getting in there and we keep creating chances for him I am 100 per cent confident in his ability to score a lot of goals for us," said Hoddle. "He was a little unfortunate the other night, but the bottom line is that he is a super player and I have no doubts he will end up with a good tally at the end of the year."

Keane, who also hit the bar with a stunning volley late in the game, insisted his confidence would not be affected by what happened on Wednesday. "I know myself I should have scored but, as we all know, football can be like that," he said. "I think I should have scored two of them, but that's the way it goes. I'm just looking forward to Sunderland now and hopefully bouncing back with a win."

Stewart, meanwhile, is simply hoping for a chance to prove to his new manager Howard Wilkinson that he can rediscover the form which brought him 21 goals for Ipswich in his first top-flight season. The striker, who celebrated his 30th birthday on Friday, is yet to find the mark in the Premiership for his new club in five appearances, two of them as a substitute. Yet he has plundered four of his side's 10 Worthington Cup goals in just two games.

"All I can do is, when I play, try to score," he said. "That's my job. At the moment I'm on a run of form. I've only started five games for this club and I've got four goals. But I'm 30 now, so I want first-team football, every player wants to play week-in, week-out.

Stewart has had to be patient after arriving on Wearside just hours ahead of the transfer deadline in Peter Reid's £10m double swoop for him and Flo. However, Reid's departure and Wilkinson's arrival has left Stewart having to prove himself all over again.

"It's strange sometimes because you don't know what's around the corner," he said. "The manager who brought you in knows what you can do and bought you for the kind of things you've done in the past. Obviously, a new manager comes in and you don't know whether he likes the type of player that you are, so it's very difficult sometimes."

Stewart and Sunderland's reward for their impressive 3-2 win at Highbury is a fourth-round tie away to Sheffield United, who dumped Terry Venables further in the mire when they beat Leeds with two last-gasp strikes. Burnley's manager Stan Ternent got his wish for a big money-earning tie after defeating Tottenham with a plum draw at home to Manchester United.

The tie of the round, however, looks like being the all-Premiership encounter at Stamford Bridge where Chelsea host Everton. The holders Blackburn face Rotherham at Ewood Park, while the Premiership's pacesetters Liverpool welcome Joe Royle back to Merseyside with his new Ipswich side. The matches will be played on 3 or 4 December.