Sunderland manager Roy Keane says he "feels like a baby" when pitted against the likes of Arsene Wenger.

The 37-year-old Irishman goes head-to-head with the Arsenal boss on Saturday a little more than two years into his management career.

Keane will hope the Gunners got their backlash from last weekend's shock 2-1 home defeat by Hull out of the way with their Champions League win over Porto in midweek, although he knows the Black Cats face a major test.

He stepped on to a steep learning curve when he accepted Niall Quinn's offer of employment, but has simply enhanced his reputation by dragging the Black Cats back into the Barclays Premier League at the first attempt and then keeping them there.

However he will be given a reminder of how much he, and the likes of Middlesbrough counterpart Gareth Southgate and Blackburn's Paul Ince, still have to learn when he and Wenger lock horns at the Stadium of Light.

Keane said: "You are pitting your wits against these brilliant clubs and these managers, like Martin O'Neill last week. They have vast experience and I feel like a baby, really, just starting out."

He continued: "But that's the challenge we face, myself and people like Gareth and Incey. It's good, though. Hopefully these managers won't keep going on forever and they will move on soon and give us a chance.

"But they are absolutely brilliant managers, and they will be remembered more so when they are gone than they are at the moment."

Keane has worked hard behind the scenes to establish a scouting network around the world, and he currently has people working for him in 13 different countries.

However, he admits it will be a long time before he can boast the kind of set-up which has enabled Wenger to unearth a series of previously undiscovered gems for the Gunners.

He said: "Arsene Wenger, as much as he has spent, has not spent anywhere near as maybe some of the other big clubs on the players he has brought in and sold on for a profit.

"That's something we have to look at as a football club. We are not capable of continuing to spend £20 million, £25 million, £30 million every transfer window.

That's where your scouting network pays off, and that is something we are looking to improve. But to try to compare our system at the moment to Arsenal's and people like that is crazy. We are a long way away yet.

"Alex Ferguson said it took him three or four years at Manchester United - I have been here two years. But I am not overly concerned, I know there is progress being made here."

Last week, Wenger sent a chilling message to the rest of the Premier League when a team of youngsters demolished Coca-Cola Championship side Sheffield United in the Carling Cup, although Keane insisted their 6-0 victory came as no surprise.

He said: "We have got some decent kids ourselves, but the word on the streets for the last couple of years is that Arsenal have got a group of kids coming through who will be absolutely outstanding.

"Anyone who works in youth football will tell you that, particularly over the last year or two."

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