STEVE CALDWELL'S moaning has improved since he struck up a partnership with Gary Breen at Sunderland - but reckons his skippers is still a lot worse.

"We're both moaners, but Breeny is a bigger moaner than me, and I'm sure the rest of the lads will agree with that as well," quipped the big Scot ahead of this afternoon's Championship clash against Watford.

"But Breeny is the captain and it is important that he gets on everybody's backs and encourages, and he does that in equal measures."

Caldwell sought out Shay Given for advice while a Newcastle player before his move to Wearside in the summer, and admitted the attraction of playing with the goalkeeper's Republic of Ireland team mate certainly appealed after listening to what he had to say.

"I spoke to Shay about Breeny, and he said he was an excellent player, which I knew because I had seen it for myself.

"I watched him on TV at World Cups and in the Premiership so he was an attraction for coming here and I'm just pleased that it took only a month to get to know each other and get a good partnership going.

"I certainly get on with Breeny as much as anyone in the team. We don't socialise much away from the training ground but he's a good guy.

"I don't know why we hit it off so well, I think it is just a football thing. He is a very good player who has lots of caps and he is great to play with.

"It's easy to slip back into the team when you're playing with someone that good.

"I enjoy playing with him and I hope it continues for a long time."

The 24-year-old centre half admitted that along with the Black Cats' skipper, he and the older members of the team have a big responsibility towards the younger players as the pressure mounts towards the season's run in.

"I feel that although I don't have too many league games under my belt I'm an experienced member of this team and I've played at a higher level than a lot of the lads, so it is important I give my vocal support and keep everybody right at this stage of the season."

Before this season Caldwell had only ever performed at the highest level in the Premiership for Newcastle and when on loan at Leeds last year.

The Scottish international admitted the greatest difficulty of stepping down to play championship football is the 'relentless amount of games'.

"It is a tiring and a tough league," said Caldwell. "There are some tough teams and no pushovers as it is a physical league.

"I watch some Championship games myself and I think what a poor game, but when you're playing in it you seem to think it is different and better.

"There is a lot of long-ball stuff which makes it difficult for us because we like to get the ball down and play.

"So I think we'll adapt quite well if we get to the Premiership. It is still a long way off; there are 15 games to go and nobody is getting carried away, but we're capable."

Caldwell acknowledged it would be devastating for him and the club if they did not clinch a place in the Premiership at the end of the season, which is why there is an 'immense' hunger to get out of the Championship.

He said: "To go six months and play so well for that length of time and get us into a great position, you now feel as if you just want to finish the job off.

"You watch the Premiership and you just want to be playing in it every week.

"We'll be gutted if we don't make it, but we're not even thinking about that because we're certain were going to make it. We still think we'll win the league but if not, second will do."

Midfielder Darryl Powell has joined Nottingham Forest's fight against relegation from the Coca-Cola Championship.

Powell, who spent seven years on the books at Forest's bitter rivals Derby, had been training with the Reds on a casual basis after leaving Major League Soccer outfit Colorado Rapids but the 34-year-old has now signed until the end of the season.

Plymouth midfielder David Friio is also set to Forest in a £100,000 deal.

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