Sunderland boss Roy Keane attempted to sign former Manchester United teammate Teddy Sheringham in January.

Now with Colchester, Sheringham told the Sunday Times: "Yeah, it was quite weird. It was that conversation I had with (West Ham manager Alan) Curbishley . . . I said, 'Well, if you won't let me go to Charlton, where will you let me go?' And he said, 'Well, I've had no phone calls about you . . . I had one phone call when I first got the job and I told them you weren't available'. I said, 'Who was that, if you don't mind me asking?' He said, 'Well, Keaney was asking about you going up to Sunderland'. I said, 'Really? Bloody hell!'"

Asked about Keane's WAG comments, Sheringham added: "Of course it's a valid point. It's a fantastic point. The question he is asking is: what do they want to do with their life? Do they want to be footballers or coast along? Do they want to play for a fantastic football club like Sunderland? Or do they want to wait round for a club in London so they can go shopping on days off?"