SUNDERLAND skipper Gary Breen has handed Mick McCarthy a major pre-season boost by declaring himself fit for the club's forthcoming tour of North America, writes Scott Wilson.

Breen was forced to sit out the Republic of Ireland's two World Cup qualifiers last month after picking up an injury in the final game of last season.

The centre-half jarred his knee as Sunderland earned a 1-0 win over Stoke to sign off their Championship campaign in style.

At the time, there were fears that Breen might have struggled to shake off the problem in time to take his place on next month's trip to Canada and the United States.

But, after spending his summer holiday building his fitness back up, the 31-year-old has assured McCarthy he will be ready to play a full part in Sunderland's four-game tour.

The Black Cats take on a Victoria State side on July 14, before also facing Vancouver Whitecaps, Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers.

Breen will join up with the rest of his team-mates when they return to pre-season training next Tuesday, ahead of a campaign that could eventually end with him playing in the World Cup.

The Irish international would have been playing for his country last month were it not for his untimely injury problem and, with both Andy O'Brien and Richard Dunne currently out of favour, boss Brian Kerr is expected to call on his services for September's crucial game against France.

By that time, Breen will have already figured in Sunderland's first four games of the season as they attempt to defy predictions of a rapid return to the Championship.

The bookmakers are already making the Black Cats firm favourites for the drop but midfielder Julio Arca is far from unhappy with the gloomy predictions.

The Argentinian winger is back in the North-East after spending most of the summer in his homeland and is confident of confounding the critics over the next ten months.

"The fact that we are favourites to go down will not affect us," claimed Arca, who made 41 starts last term and played his way into the PFA's team of the season. "Maybe we should not be because we finished ahead of Wigan and West Ham last season.

"But it does not bother us - we like that role. Last season we were not the favourites to go up but we won the league.

"We're just looking forward to the Premiership. We know it will be difficult but we have a good squad of players and the manager has brought some good players in.

"The Premiership is possibly the best league in the world and that's where we want to be."

* Tickets for Sunderland's pre-season games at Hull (July 27) and Sheffield United (July 30) go on sale on Monday, July 4, at 10am.

* New Aston Villa striker Kevin Phillips has vowed to reward the faith shown in him by manager David O'Leary with a 20-goal haul next season. O'Leary yesterday captured the 31-year-old for £750,000 after failing to sign him in the January transfer window.

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