ROY Keane has been given the backing of owner Marcus Evans to bring fresh faces into his struggling Ipswich Town squad.The Blues travel to Bramall Lane to play Sheffield United tonight (kick-off 7.

Elvin King

ROY Keane has been given the backing of owner Marcus Evans to bring fresh faces into his struggling Ipswich Town squad.

The Blues travel to Bramall Lane to play Sheffield United tonight (kick-off 7.45pm) having made their worst start to any season and desperate for Coca-Cola Championship points.

Keane is believed to have had a meeting with Evans after Saturday's 4-0 home thrashing by Newcastle.

And despite still waiting for his first 2009/10 victory after spending around �8million on new players since his arrival at Portman Road last April, Keane is set to fork out more.

Not on transfer fees - initially at any rate - but on the significant wages that it would take to bring in the calibre of players on loan who would arrest the slide.

To bring in a Sol Campbell-type fringe Premier League defender on a 93-day maximum loan would need an outlay of at least �15,000 a week wages.

But Town are desperate, and Keane has revealed that when not sleeping he is spending every hour looking at ways to improve results at Portman Road.

“There has been a little bit of progress over the last couple of days and I have two targets in mind,” said Keane.

“We've hit one or two brick walls and nothing will happen before the Sheffield United game, but I am a bit more hopeful before the weekend.

“I've been saying for the last couple of months, there are one or two areas of the club I think we need improving.

“It's very good talking about the defensive problems, in particularly from set pieces, but we need to talk about the solution and get one or two players in.

“Trust me; getting one or two players in is not easy. I can give you a list of names, but it is getting players who will improve us that counts.

“And with an uncertainty about the length of Alex Bruce's groin injury this perhaps heightens our need.”

Keane has knocked down reports that he has already spoken to Campbell after

the former England international left the employ of Notts County suddenly last week.

The Town boss is expecting no easy ride from the high-flying Blades tonight, adding: “I was impressed watching the Sheffield derby recently.

“Both sides showed a very good desire and high fitness levels, and it will be a tough game.

“We need to put our foot on the ball and play football. We will do our best.”