Sunderland manager Roy Keane insists the lure of his former club will not deflect him from the importance of tomorrow's Carling Cup second round trip to Luton.

With Keane preparing to take his team back to Old Trafford next Saturday, the gruelling midweek trip south could be considered an unwelcome distraction.

But Keane will put the prospect of pulling off an improbable result against the champions at bay as he focuses on avoiding any slip-ups at Kenilworth Road.

Keane said: "We will be going to Luton with the intention of winning the game and we won't be expecting to walk it.

"If anyone takes that approach Luton will give them a shock so we need to be just as committed to doing well as we will be when we play Manchester United on Saturday.

"I do believe it is a competition we would like to do well in and we won't be experimenting too much. I am not really in a position to rotate the squad."

The trip to Luton will revive good memories for Keane, whose side sealed the Coca-Cola Championship title there on the last day of last season with an emphatic 5-0 victory.

Fringe players such as Roy O'Donovan, Stern John and Stan Varga are all expected to figure but Kieron Richardson is likely to miss out with a back injury, and Andy Cole will not play.

One player who is likely to make his first start of the season is Grant Leadbitter, who came on as a substitute against Liverpool after recovering from a hamstring strain.

Keane added: "It's great to have Grant back. He is a quality player and a bubbly character and he has every chance of going on to become a top player."