Roy Keane has called on his Sunderland team to follow the example set by Hull City and break into the top half of the Premier League.

The Sunderland manager says the success of Phil Brown's team has been "good for football", and he believes Hull can sustain their challenge and finish in the top half of the division. Keane says Sunderland, who are 14th after winning two of their opening seven matches, need to set themselves an ambitious target for the remainder of the season.

"It's going to be a long, hard season, we all know that," Keane said. "Every team will have its ups and downs and I'm sure Hull will have disappointments along the way.

"I'm pretty sure, come the end of the season, which teams will be in the top four, I'd be very surprised if any team was to break into that.

"But in terms of the other positions, if Hull keep going there's no reason why they can't finish in the top half, that's where we are aiming to go."

With Hull in third place and Tottenham Hotspur at the foot of the Premier League table, Keane says the fresh look to the table is the shake-up the game needs.

"It's good for football. Not that Tottenham are bottom but in terms of the way Hull have come up and done well," he said. "It happened a few years ago when Reading first got promoted and it's great to see.

Keane is hopeful Kenwyne Jones can make a return from injury to face Newcastle United in the Tyne-Wear derby on October 25. The Trinidad & Tobago international, who has not played since injuring a knee playing against England in June, is currently in the Caribbean training with the national team.

"The Fulham game (October 18) will come too early for him but we'd hope he's available after that," Keane said.