Roy Keane, the Sunderland manager, believes that his team are ready to sink their teeth into the Barclays Premier League after signing Djibril Cisse on loan.

The former Liverpool striker is set to make his debut against Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow after completing a season-long loan deal from Marseilles.

Keane, who thinks that his team lacked punch against Liverpool in their first match of the Barclays Premier League season last weekend, is hoping that the France player can change that.

After bringing in Cisse and David Healy from Fulham, another striker, Keane said: "With Kenwyne Jones being injured, we did lack some physical presence up front.

“We’re delighted with the two signings, we needed more strength up there and they will give us it. The loan deal is good for both parties. For us, to look at him with an option to buy him, and for him, to come and show what he is all about.”

Keane, who has signed eight players this summer, is targeting another two before the transfer window closes on September 1.

“I spoke to a player last night and he has agreed to come in principle," Keane said. “There are just one or two things to be ironed out, and there’s one other position I’d like to strengthen before I’m finished.”

Sunderland lost 14 of their 19 away games in the Premier League last season and had to rely on their home form to keep them up. But Keane thinks it will be a different story this season, starting at White Hart Lane tomorrow.

“Our away form has to get better - it can’t get much worse,” he said. “With our away form last year, I’m pretty sure Tottenham are looking forward to us coming to London, but hopefully we can improve.

“Last year is history, it’s a new season and a new challenge. We gave away two shocking goals last year and we know we can’t make the same mistakes again, against any team.

“The players I have brought in have got experience of playing in the Premier League and we lacked that last year.

"It’s not always about getting victories, it’s about being able to get draws as well. A lot of the time last season we had decent possession and good opportunities but we gave away silly goals, Tottenham was a prime example.”

Sunderland signed three players - Steed Malbranque, Teemu Tainio and Pascal Chimbonda - from Tottenham in the summer and Andy Reid also used to play for the North London club. Tainio, who has a muscle strain, is the only one who will miss out on a return to the club.

“It’s always nice to go back to your old club, but they are Sunderland players now and they will be focused on doing a job for us,” Keane said. “Hopefully we can catch Tottenham on an off-day because talent-wise they are very strong.

“They have made some outstanding signings and, come end of season, Tottenham will be high up that Premier League table. They will have a big say in the league and the cup competitions.”

Keane also think that the pressure will be on both managers tomorrow after opening-day defeats.

“Every manager in the Premier League has a big job, especially after you lose the first game,” he said.