Ricky Sbragia has hit back at Roy Keane's claim that Sunderland lack a winning mentality by attacking the Wearsiders' former manager for continuing to talk about the club and by reminding the Irishman that he bought most of the players he is now criticising. "If Roy wants a bit of publicity, he says something," said Sbragia, who took over from Keane as Sunderland's manager in December. "But I don't have a problem with the winning mentality of my squad. Anyway, he brought the majority of them in."

While Keane has clearly "moved on" in the physical sense by joining Ipswich, it seems that he remains preoccupied by his bitter split with Sunderland and, in turn, the Wearsiders cannot escape their former manager's shadow – a situation Sbragia is finding increasingly irritating. "Roy left this club. He's not here, we don't talk about him. We don't discuss him. But for some reason he somehow keeps coming back," the Scot said. "I don't know why. Maybe he still thinks he's the manager here.

"But I wouldn't go and criticise ­Ipswich. I wouldn't do that. I don't think that's right. Maybe he's just bored and has nothing to do, so he thinks: 'I'll have a go at Sunderland!' Why doesn't he talk about Ipswich? Why is he always talking about Sunderland. That's what I don't understand. He's left here."

Sbragia hinted that Keane has reason to be discreet about those he left behind at the Stadium of Light, revealing, tantalisingly: "I know exactly why Roy left, exactly what he said, exactly what he did. I could go into more detail but I won't. I won't go into print with it.

"I don't know what Roy's mandate is, he hasn't been in touch but then he seems to talk more in the papers, doesn't he?," he said. "But I don't go and talk about any other clubs and say that Man United are going through a really bad season or stuff like that," continued Sunderland's manager. "Or that Arsenal are crap and are not showing any bollocks. I wouldn't say anything like that, it wouldn't be true. But I don't think you should say stuff about other clubs. I think he should just really concentrate on Ipswich. Roy's back in football. He should enjoy it."

Keane – who has launched legal action against Sunderland in an effort to secure a potential bonus should his former club avoid relegation – has not actually criticised United or Arsenal in recent weeks but Sbragia was making a general point.

The manager was less keen to debate specifics. Asked if he agreed with his ­Ipswich counterpart's reflection on Andy Reid's perceived lack of fitness, Sbragia performed a neat verbal body swerve. "I'm not going down that road," he insisted. "Roy bought him though, didn't he?"

Sbragia fears that his Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who will be missing for the game at home to Everton on Sunday, may require knee surgery.