The 25-year-old Hungary international has made just a handful of appearances for the Black Cats since joining on a permanent basis in January 2007 and has been loaned out to Leicester City and Coventry City.

However, Keane handed Fulop a rare start in the 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on the final day of the season just ended and clearly rates the former Spurs man highly.

He told the Sunderland Echo: "I just fancied giving Marton a game. I know he's been frustrated for the last one or two months.

"He's very keen to go and play first-team football and I know he's under pressure from his international manager.

"But he's been an absolutely brilliant pro. It's still a big 'if' if he's to leave the club, we'll have to wait and see.

"I just thought it was right to give him a game to show what a top goalkeeper I think he is. It was nice to see him in that environment.

"But I didn't give him a game for the sake of it. I know he is a top goalkeeper and I knew he wouldn't let us down and he didn't."