MICK McCARTHY is happy to hear Premiership clubs are casting an admiring eye towards his promotion chasing players, but the Sunderland boss insists he has no intention of selling.

McCarthy has spoken out after learning that European hopefuls Everton are planning a seven-figure January swoop for Northern Ireland full-back George McCartney.

McCartney's displays for club and country have caught the attention of many top managers and Sunderland are bracing themselves for a fight to retain the player's services.

But McCarthy claims he is not too worried about would-be suitors and he believes that attention is inevitable when a team is doing well - something he has learned to deal with.

Sunderland, who take on West Ham at the Stadium of Light tomorrow, are third in the Championship having won six of their last seven league games.

And McCarthy, who was yesterday pipped to November's Manager of the Month award by Ipswich's Joe Royle despite having identical records, said: "We have got some good young players so where do Premier League clubs go looking?

"If I was a Premiership manager I would have no hesitation in looking at Gary Breen, Julio Arca, George, Kevin Kyle and probably a few others.

"Teams are not going to buy from other Premier League clubs really. So they look at clubs in our position.

"But I would like to think it helps us. To know someone is looking at them will boost players' self-esteem.

"Do we want to consider offers that are made?

"At the minute we have been on a good run and we want to keep George and players like him. I'm delighted for George. He's not going anywhere, but it means he is playing well."

Everton's interest in McCartney has arrived even though the left-back, who can also play in the middle of defence, signed a contract to stay on Wearside until 2007 in the summer.

McCarthy has the defender as his vice-captain and claims the player should have no reasons for turning his back on Sunderland.

The former Republic of Ireland manager believes there are few bigger or better clubs than Sunderland but he knows top-flight status is a priority if he is to retain his best players.

"I'm trying to build a side here and the concentration for all of us is to get in to the Premier League with Sunderland," he said. "Sunderland as a Premier League club would be as good as most and better than a lot.

"If we went up we would have full houses every week. They'd be getting paid according to being in the Premier League and it would be something nice on all of our CVs if we do get promoted.

"There should be no thoughts of George going anywhere, certainly for the rest of the season. If he's still interesting people then the summer will be the time to reconsider. January is not the time. The players here have got us into the position we are in."

McCarthy revealed yesterday that last weekend's goal-hero Michael Bridges is unlikely to start against West Ham tomorrow after struggling with an Achilles injury all week.

The striker ended a run of over four-and-a-half-years without a goal at Stoke - where he scored the only goal of the game - and fans have been clamouring for his inclusion in the starting XI.

Despite his injury woe, Bridges is looking forward to re-igniting his career after securing his future at Sunderland.

The 26-year-old's three-month loan from Bolton does not officially run out until later this month, but he knows he will remain on Wearside for the remainder of this season and the next.

Bridges said: "It's given me the security that I wanted.

"I didn't just want to come here, play a few games and then go. It was always my intention to stay here at a club where I spent so many good years.

"I spoke to Mick McCarthy before I actually went to Bolton in the summer.

"There was a chance that I had burnt my bridges by going there instead.

"I would have liked a few more starts but that's just the way it has gone because the team has been doing well.

"Hopefully the goal will now mean I score a few more and force myself into the first team because I came here to play more games."

And Bridges insists his dream now is to return to the Premiership with Sunderland.

"We are not going to jump the gun. We are just going to take it steady but to get back into the Premiership would be fantastic. It's where a club like this belongs," he said.

"I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to get back into the Premiership. Getting back there with this club would be great but, like I say, I'm not going to talk our chances up yet.

"If we keep picking up good results then there's a chance we will finish highly."

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