MICK McCARTHY has revealed how his policy of buying players for the 'next ten years' is reaping its rewards on Wearside.

The Sunderland manager raised eyebrows amongst the Stadium of Light faithful with his summer acquisitions - bringing in 'unknowns' from the lower leagues in England and Scotland, and Premiership reserves.

But the likes of Stephen Elliott, Dean Whitehead, Liam Lawrence and Neill Collins have proved a revelation this term, and McCarthy admits their hunger has been key to the side's success.

"I wanted to have a younger, ambitious side," said the Sunderland manager. "Don't get me wrong, the lads that were here were ambitious to do well, they fought they're corner last year.

"But it's a different feeling when you come in as a lad of 20 and you're on the up. You're not on the way out. You want to come here for the next five or ten years.

"They've come here to improve. They've all come here hungry. Hungry to better themselves to improve and to try and get the club promoted knowing full well this will be a fantastic club in the Premier League - they all want that. They're all hungry to succeed."

And the Black Cats boss admitted his transfer policy also raised eyebrows in the Sunderland boardroom.

The financial constraints at the Stadium of Light meant McCarthy was shopping in the bargain basement in the summer as he offloaded big earners and replaced them with unknown youngsters.

Despite this, chairman Bob Murray was still confused as to exactly which side the manager was buying for.

McCarthy said: "When I brought Dean Whitehead, Liam Lawrence and Stephen Elliott in - players nobody knew - maybe there was a lot of people more surprised than me about how well they've done.

"I brought them in because I thought they could play at this level.

"The chairman asked me on a number of occasions when I was asking about bringing players in, 'are they for the first team?'.

"Of course they're for the first team. I'm not trying to sign players for the reserve team.

"I'm not surprised how well they've done because they are good players. Good athletic players who can play in this league."

McCarthy now believes the squad he has assembled possesses the strength in depth to maintain its push for the Premiership all the way through to May.

He said: "We're better equipped because the first team that I had last year which was excellent - we finished third - didn't have those two players needed for every position.

"We've got that now. Last year would I have had cover if Joachim Bjorklund, Gary Breen and Phil Babb were out?

"This time I've got four centre-backs who've all done well.

"Julio Arca and George McCartney at left back. Andy Welsh and Julio at left wing with Danny Collins also able to play left back.

"I just feel that the squad as a whole - we've got four in the midfield area who've done well and four strikers - has done well.

"I've got two players in every position."