MICK McCarthy has warned fans' favourite Michael Bridges that he cannot expect to walk into the Sunderland first team on reputation alone.

Bridges, who is currently in his second spell at the Stadium of Light, has played just 54 minutes of senior football since rejoining the Black Cats more than a month ago.

His progress has been hampered by a niggling thigh problem but, after battling against a succession of serious injuries in recent years, the 26-year-old is finally back to full fitness.

Sunderland's supporters have always had a soft spot for a striker who scored 22 goals in just 41 starts during his first spell on Wearside, and there were glimpses of the Bridges of old as he opened his account second time around in Wednesday night's reserve-team draw with Wolves.

That display has led to calls for a starting berth in tomorrow's Championship clash with Brighton. But with Stephen Elliott and Marcus Stewart having shared 13 goals this season, McCarthy has told Bridges to bide his time.

"I know people were saying 'Hail the conquering hero returns' when we signed Michael," said McCarthy, who will be in the opposite dug-out to former Celtic team-mate Mark McGhee tomorrow.

"But the two lads playing up front at the minute have been different class. Michael's unfortunate that he's behind two good strikers.

"He won't start on Saturday - I'll tell you that now. Stephen Elliott won the man of the match on Monday night, and I thought Marcus Stewart was terrific as well.

"The two of them look a threat together and they've been scoring goals. I've got no reason to try to hide that from anybody.

"That pairing have been terrific and they deserve to be playing up front together against Brighton."

While Elliott and Stewart will resume their partnership, McCarthy insists that Bridges remains an integral part of his plans.

He has not scored a senior goal in almost four and a half years but, by hitting the back of the net for Sunderland's second string, the former Leeds forward proved he has retained a striker's instinct.

"I was pleased to see Michael scoring for the reserves," said McCarthy. "His skills have never been in question.

"I haven't signed him, put him in the reserves, and suddenly thought 'This lad can play'.

"We know he can play, but it's a case of doing it on a regular basis. The more games he gets, the better he's going to be."

Bridges will not be the only high-profile absentee tomorrow as a hamstring injury has ruled out former skipper George McCartney for the next fortnight.

The full-back was the subject of a heated club versus country row this month, and McCarthy has accused the Northern Irish authorities of exacerbating his injury problems by playing him against Sunderland's wishes.

McCartney was pulled out of his country's goalless draw in Azerbaijan. But after Northern Ireland boss Lawrie Sanchez threatened to invoke FIFA's four-day rule, Sunderland reluctantly allowed him to report to Belfast ahead of the recent World Cup qualifier with Austria.

The Black Cats expected the 23-year-old to play no part in the game as he was carrying a knock. But the defender played for the full 90 minutes of a 3-3 thriller.

He then turned out for Sunderland against Millwall three days later and is now paying the penalty for such a hectic fixture schedule.

"George went across there with a scan that showed there was damage to his tendon," said McCarthy.

"He's gone over there and I think he's been pressured into playing a little bit. He's played, not had the rest that was required, and now he's going to have to pick up the pieces.

"It's an issue of over-use and it's finally come to a head. I didn't want George to be missing. I didn't want him to be having ten days or a fortnight off so I could say to people 'He was injured all along'.

"But maybe anybody that was doubting him will revise that opinion of him now."

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