KEVIN KYLE looks to have played his last football of an injury-plagued season after suffering another setback.

The 23-year-old Sunderland striker had surgery five months ago after complaining his movements were being restricted by an excruciating pain in his hip.

The operation was intended to clear the way for the big Scot to make his comeback in the frantic Christmas period. But as Kyle eased back into first team training he admitted to feeling some discomfort in his movements.

Rather than further surgery a specialist recommended he should rest and it seemed to have done the trick.

The Scottish international was back on the road to recovery after playing for 45 minutes in the second team's 2-1 victory against Nottingham Forest at Durham last week.

But just as Kyle was about to step up his rehabilitation, he suffered another reaction to the injury, which has plagued him since pre-season training.

"He played in the reserves and felt great and we were all delighted for him," said manager Mick McCarthy.

"But he has had a reaction to it. A couple of months ago I was saying it was very unlikely he was going to play again this season; it was looking very bleak for him.

"But, after two weeks of extra rest and training, he seemed to be OK and we were very excited.

"Now it looks as though our original diagnosis might have been right after all. Whatever happens we are going to have to treat him with kid gloves and gently coax him along.

"He has been out for a long time and it's a nasty injury to have, everyone has to remember that, including him."

While sympathising with the big striker's plight, McCarthy admitted emotions have to be put to one side as the club focus on maintaining their assault on the Premiership.

"It's not about anything he has done for me in the past, it's about what he can do for me in the future," said McCarthy.

"It's about a player of Kyle's ability helping this club to get promoted. If he was fit, he would help us win games."

Danny Collins' bow in the international arena this week capped an extraordinary season, which began nine months ago in non league football.

The 24-year-old centre half was playing his trade in the Nationwide Conference for Chester City last season, but on Wednesday he made a substitute appearance for Wales in their 2-0 victory at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

McCarthy believes nobody would have had the foresight to put money on the remarkable progress made by Collins, and team-mate Stephen Elliott, since they moved to Wearside.

Elliott was only a reserve at Manchester City and probably fifth in the pecking line.

But the 20-year-old striker, who cost Sunderland £125,000, made his international debut for the Republic of Ireland in November. Although he did not play a part in their 1-0 victory over Portugal at Lansdowne Road, Elliott was still part of the Irish squad in Dublin.

"To suggest that the pair of them were going to be full internationals when we got them would have been unbelievable," said McCarthy.

"With Stephen Elliott, you could say that being in the international set-up (as an under 21) he had a chance. But coming from a reserve team it is unlikely.

"Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland don't have as big a squad to pick from as England do, but to suggest Danny Collins was going to be a full international when he moved from Chester - I don't think too many would have been putting much money on it. But Danny has impressed me very much.

"I caught the last 20 minutes of the Wales game after the reserves' match and I was delighted to see Danny get on and they got a great result."

* Chris Brown is ready to commit his future to the Black Cats after breaking into the first team.

The 20-year-old striker has scored three goals in eight starts after a successful loan spell at Doncaster last season.

Brown is out of contract in the summer but talks are well under way over a new deal.

''I knew that it was up to me to push through and prove that I could do it at this level,'' he said.

''I've made more appearances than I thought I would, but I know I need to make more starts."

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