SUNDERLAND'S Steve Caldwell has backed fellow Scotsman Neill Collins to become a star for club and country after a promising beginning to life on Wearside.

Collins has only been used as back-up for the Black Cats since moving from Scottish part-timers Dumbarton in August and has started just seven matches.

But when the 21-year-old has been given a chance to shine he has shown he is more than capable of stepping up to Championship level and has received glowing praise from manager Mick McCarthy.

The talented young centre-back is on stand-by for tomorrow's trip to Preston North End after Gary Breen tweaked his medial knee ligaments in the 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.

Caldwell insists Collins has shown he has the potential to become a big player for Sunderland and Scotland.

"Neill has done fantastically well since he arrived. I must admit I didn't know much about him because he was playing in the lower leagues in Scotland, but he really looks the part and has improved as a player," said Caldwell.

"Neill's only young and will improve even more. He wants to improve and he has a bright future.

"As well as becoming an influential figure for Sunderland hopefully he will go on to claim international honours. I don't see any reason why not, he's young and has great potential."

Collins is yet to play for Scotland Under-21s but hopes working alongside Caldwell, capped under the now defunct Berti Vogts regime, and Republic of Ireland defender Breen in training will aid his cause.

When the Troon-born centre-back made the move south of the border he spoke of how he had hopes that Sunderland would help him to realise his international ambitions.

He will be anxiously waiting to hear whether skipper Breen has been able to shrug off the knee injury in time for the trip to Deepdale tomorrow, where Sunderland will be aiming to preserve their place in the top two.

They are unlikely to have midfielders Liam Lawrence and Carl Robinson in their squad against Preston.

Lawrence's results of a scan on the Achilles injury picked up against Nottingham Forest were clear, but he is still doubtful, while Robinson had to be substituted in the same game after sustaining a toe injury.

Matt Piper, Andy Welsh and Jeff Whitley are all hoping to be handed a chance to stake a claim for a place in McCarthy's starting line-up.

Meanwhile, Sunderland have turned to the Emerald Isle again in a bid to unearth the Republic of Ireland's latest hot striking talent.

Teenage Bohemians forward Stephen Ward will be arriving at the Stadium of Light on January 5 for a short trial spell as he attempts to secure a dream move to English football.

The 18-year-old has made a name for himself in Ireland at schoolboy international level and he earned his first Under-21 cap in April, when he played in the same side as Black Cats stars Sean Thornton and Stephen Elliott.

McCarthy is always on the look- out for new talent and has been alerted to Ward's potential through his links in that country, having been a manager of the Republic.

Bohemians, who handed the player his debut only last season, are known to be keen on keeping hold of Ward.

But they accept they will be unable to retain his services if Sunderland decide to make the move permanent.

The Dubliner scored twice on his Bohs debut in April after moving from Portmarnock's Under-17s side.

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