MICK McCARTHY hit back at claims he was responsible for breaking the leg of Black Cats' midfielder Colin Healy, writes Will Scott.

The Sunderland boss was furious, after his side's 0-0 draw against Derby County, following Saturday morning reports that he was to blame for the injury to a player who has just recovered from breaking a leg at Coventry last season.

He said: "I actually disagree with the press black-out in regard to the English players and I've had this before but when things like this happen I kind of understand why, and I can empathise with them.

"I was on the pitch, I was involved in the game; but there was absolutely no contact with me. He actually went to protect the ball and stood on the ground and fell over.

"Yes I was on the pitch, yes I was on the floor trying to get the ball but the manager, the boss, didn't do it.

"I had a discussion with Colin as I walked out for training that morning with words to the effect that he might be in the reserves this week.

"He had been training for eight weeks with the ball and Colin was thrilled with that. He's had a great rehab; he's been protected all the way through and he was ready to play.

"The difficulty now for him is a psychological barrier that he knows he's got with the lengthy absence.

"I'm not going to speculate on how but the operation was done in the first place was to the best of everybody's ability and nobody can understand now, why, after nine or 10 months, why it would happen because he's brought through with kid gloves to the extent he's just planted his foot and it's broken again."