New duo hail boss Keane

Tainio and Diouf: Keane fans

El-Hadji Diouf and Teemu Tainio have revealed how Roy Keane's influence helped persuade them to sign for Sunderland.

Senegal striker Diouf and Finland midfielder Tainio were presented to the media at the Stadium of Light after completing their respective moves from Bolton and Tottenham.

Black Cats boss Keane has now brought six new faces to the North East over the summer, having also sealed deals for Steed Malbranque, Pascal Chimbonda, back-up goalkeeper Nick Colgan and young striker David Meyler.

Diouf and Tainio believe they have joined a club on the up and part of their reason for joining Sunderland was Keane's reputation as a player and a manager.

Temperament

Diouf told Sky Sports News: "I'm very happy to be working for the manager. He used to be a very good player, everybody knows him.

"He works so hard. We have the same temperament and the same character.

"Sunderland are a very ambitious club. If you look at the signings like myself, Malbranque and Chimbonda, you know the club want to do something for the future.

"I am very happy to sign for this football club. They have a lot of ambition and I am sure if we work hard and play together we can finish this season in the top eight."

Capable

And Tainio is keen to secure regular action for the Black Cats having been something of a peripheral figure at White Hart Lane last season under Martin Jol and Juande Ramos.

He said: "My last year at Spurs was quite difficult. I didn't play as many games as I wanted and I was playing out of position at left-back and right-back.

"Everyone knows my favourite position is in central midfield. That's one reason that I came here, to show that I am capable of playing there.

"I felt that he (Keane) was very ambitious, like he was as a player. Every player who plays in that position loves him."