MICK McCARTHY revealed he is drawing on his own experience as a player to plot Sunderland's escape from the Coca-Cola Championship.

The Sunderland boss, who celebrates his 100th match in charge of the Black Cats when they go to Molineux to face Wolves, is set to recall his experienced centre back pair Gary Breen and Steve Caldwell for tonight's crucial Championship clash.

The Black Cats skipper and the Scotland international both came through unscathed in the reserves' 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest at Durham on Monday night, after missing recent games through injury.

Neill and Danny Collins, who deputised for McCarthy's first choice pairing at the heart of the defence, will miss out as McCarthy aims to go top of the table for the first time this season.

McCarthy hailed the 'Collins Twins' as "excellent" in Breen and Caldwell's absence, but feels the experienced pair hold the key to Sunderland's return to the Premiership.

"We have 16 games left and they are becoming more and more intense and that is where experience counts," admitted the boss. "I know that because I was an experienced player.

"I was out of the team at Celtic for a long time. I had been sent off - which was a surprise - and a young centre half got in and played, and they kept winning and I couldn't get back in the side.

"But the Scottish Cup semi-final came around and I played, and it was the best game I had had all season.

"I learned something from that as a player and I played in all of the remaining games of that season and we won the cup - experience counts.

"Gary Breen and Steve Caldwell have done really well as a partnership and individually.

"They communicate well and are good talkers. The other two lads have been great but the others have a little bit more experience."

Skipper Breen is delighted to back in the side and feels fully refreshed after missing the last four games with a knee injury.

But Breen admitted he has no sympathy for the stand-ins having to make way for his return.

"I've got no sympathy for them," quipped the Republic of Ireland international. "What? You'd rather they play instead of me?

"They've done brilliantly and I'm delighted for them. They've done really well, when you consider the level they've come from, and they've got great attitudes to go further.

"Their performances have made it a lot easier for me watching because it is very frustrating when you miss games, and when you're dropping points, because you feel as if you should be out there helping.

"But they've done superbly. They've got some fantastic results and all credit to them and the manager for picking them up from where he did.

"I'm full of praise and admiration for them and how they apply themselves, not only in the games they play but in training as well and around the club.

"They've got the correct attitude - they want to do well in the game and if they continue the way they are then I'm sure they will do."

Sunderland have been hanging on to the coat tails of the top two - Ipswich and Wigan - all season.

But they head to the Midlands this morning knowing that a win by two clear goals or more will send them top for the first time this season.

Breen admitted it would make a nice change to wake up on a Saturday morning having the luxury of knowing the pressure was on their rivals rather than vice-versa.

"We're in a strong position on the shoulders of the front two, and if we can get a positive result it'll put the pressure on them," the 32-year-old defender confessed.

"It seems that every time we've played on a Sunday we've had to win because they have. So it'll be nice to put a bit of pressure on them and see how they respond to that."

The Sunderland boss, usually one for keeping his cards close to his chest regarding team selection, took the unusual step of naming his side ahead of this evening's game.

SUNDERLAND: Myhre, Wright, Caldwell, Breen, McCartney, Whitehead, Whitley, Robinson, Arca, Stewart, Elliott.

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