MICK McCARTHY may have been relieved when Michael Bridges pounced to score his first goal in nearly six years for Sunderland - but the manager hinted his striker's place could still be on the bench.

Despite the player's adoring fans clamouring for his selection in the first XI, McCarthy has been more of the opinion to hand him a regular cameo role.

And the Sunderland boss believes that his decision was vindicated once again on Saturday when substitute Bridges grabbed the winning goal with just seven minutes remaining.

McCarthy chose to pay tribute to the men he insisted set the scene for the former Leeds forward to enter the fray and secure all three points for the Black Cats.

"There will be a few lads crowing about the fact that Michael has scored," said McCarthy. "The lads who started both went off. But Marcus Stewart and Stephen Elliott have worked so hard for us this season and sometimes it's easier to score when you come on late. The game is strange like that.

"But having said that Chris Brown and Bridges did really well when they went on."

Now McCarthy has his hopes resting high on Bridges going on a run of form that will strengthen Sunderland's claims for a return to the Premiership.

The Wearside outfit have now lost just won in ten games and victory over West Ham at the Stadium of Light on Saturday could see them into the top two automatic spots.

And McCarthy said: "Michael has been a few years without a goal. I'm sure he is absolutely delighted and I'm really pleased for him. I hope it will be the first of many now he is back here.

"He has been getting better and better and I'm hoping the goal will help him. Just being back at a club where he is so well loved will help him and he will be wanting to add a few more to that now."

Stoke boss Tony Pulis, meanwhile, insists Sunderland have the pulling power to clinch promotion back to the top-flight after two seasons out.

McCarthy signed young winger Andy Welsh from Stockport last week but Pulis claims he will not be the last player to come through the arrival doors between now and May.

"Sunderland have enough to go out and invest in players before the end of the season and it's a club that Premiership players will come and play for if they are not getting a game. And so they have a very good chance of going back up."

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