Sunderland skipper Dean Whitehead admits there's no chance of slacking off under manager Roy Keane.

The midfielder said: "The tackles are flying about all over the place.

"Everyone knows the rules. Everyone knows you have to train properly at this club. If you don't, you won't be involved on the Saturday. Every player knows you will be dropped if you don't perform. Training is like a game for us."

And none of those players who spend most days of their lives kicking lumps out of each other believed for one second Keane would go when rumours of his resignation surfaced nine days ago.

Whitehead explained: "The manager had big ambitions for the club when he came in and that has not changed.

"He is doing it very quickly at the moment and he will strengthen again in January. How do I feel when big name players are linked with the club who play in my position? It doesn't bother me.

"We bring in so many players you have to step up and make sure you don't get left behind."

Whitehead, linked with a summer move to Stoke and Fulham, has given an insider's view of Keane's managerial style.

"The gaffer is a very hard man to please," he said. "But if you do the job for him on the pitch, there is no problem.

"If you slacken off, you don't play. It's really simple. You have to keep your standards up in training throughout the week.

"You have to perform day in, day out at this club now to stay in his plans. Everyone knows what he is about.

"I pinch myself. When the gaffer took over we were struggling at the bottom of the Championship and had lost loads of players. At this moment in time we have a good squad, full of quality and the club is progressing very quickly.

"What was it like before the manager took over? It was not done as professionally for starters.

"It is more professional in the way we prepare for games, in the way we train and it has been a big turnaround, on and off the pitch."