SUNDERLAND manager Mick McCarthy is confident that this week's Football League tribunal will not mark the end of his spending for the season.

The Black Cats enjoyed three notable victories this week but, while two came on the field of play, the third success originated at a hearing in Manchester.

The Football League ruled that Sunderland had to pay an initial £450,000 for the summer signing of Stephen Elliott, Liam Lawrence and Dean Whitehead - a figure that fell well below the more exorbitant predictions of what could occur.

McCarthy's side will look to make it three wins in a row when struggling Preston visit the Stadium of Light this afternoon.

And, with Elliott, Lawrence and Whitehead all named in the squad, the Black Cats boss is hoping further additions will make a similarly successful impact during the rest of the campaign.

"I would hope that's not the end of the spending," said McCarthy, who confirmed that he has inquired about the availability of Southampton striker Brett Ormerod and is a known admirer of Hartlepool United's Adam Boyd.

"The budget is not great in terms of signing players, but that's just the way it is.

"It's the same throughout the Championship - talk to any of the managers and they're all suffering from the same problems.

"There's no figure, but I'm still looking and you never know - I might be able to turn some players around.

"I'm not ruling out getting some players out and getting some players in, whether it's on loan or whether I buy them and pay them salaries.

"It's ongoing and I'm still looking. If we could get someone else in, it would be nice. Especially if we were able to bring them in on the back of a couple of good results."

That is exactly what has happened this week, with Birmingham midfielder Darren Carter signing a three-month loan deal at the Stadium of Light in the wake of consecutive victories over Gillingham and Nottingham Forest.

The 20-year-old, who has made 36 senior appearances for the Blues, has gone straight into the Black Cats squad for this afternoon's game and, while he is expected to start on the bench, McCarthy is confident he will make an impact during his time on Wearside.

"I'm pleased we've got him," said McCarthy. "He's a left-sided midfield player and he'll give us a bit of balance.

"He's a good footballer - I watched him against our reserves earlier this season and he was head and shoulders above the rest of them in that game.

"I think there were a number of clubs interested in Darren, but I made the call at the start of the season and have been talking to Steve (Bruce) about him ever since.

"I think my timing was opportune the other day when I rang, and I'm delighted to have got him for three months."

McCarthy is expected to name an unchanged side for the third game running, unless either Julio Arca or Jeff Whitley fails to shake off a minor calf problem.

Elliott will partner Marcus Stewart in attack, with fellow striker Kevin Kyle due to go under the surgeon's knife next Thursday.

The Scotland international has finally admitted defeat in his battle against a hip injury, and is resigned to a three-month lay-off that will hit Sunderland hard.

"We've tried to resolve it in other ways, but that hasn't happened," said McCarthy. "I think it's a bit of a relief for Kyler because he knows what it is now and he can get it sorted out.

"He couldn't continue the way he was. He kept going for the team, but his fitness was gradually getting worse because he wasn't training. It wasn't doing him any favours and we wanted him fit."

The Black Cats will have to score their goals from elsewhere with Kyle sidelined, and full-back Stephen Wright led the way on Tuesday night with his first strike for more than a year.

The right-back immediately set himself a target of three goals for the season, but his partner on the opposite flank would be happy to see just one of his efforts find the back of the net.

George McCartney has never scored for Sunderland but, as he prepares to make his 112th appearance for the club, the 23-year-old is determined to finally break his duck.

"It's been a while," he admitted. "And I'll be happy with one to be honest. It's difficult to get goals when you're a full-back, but I know I'm capable of doing it.

"I try to get forward to help the team as much as I can and, if I can't create a goal, I'll try to score them - although I'm pretty hopeless at that.

"Stephen's made sure we know all about his goal from Thursday night, but he's always going to be dangerous from set-pieces because he's good in the air."

McCartney's solitary senior goal came at Windsor Park in September 2001 as Northern Ireland enjoyed a 3-0 victory over Iceland.

Preston striker David Healy also found the net in that game, and McCartney has made sure that his team-mates know all about the threat posed by his international colleague.

"David's only 24 and he's already become Northern Ireland's record goalscorer," he said. "That's a great achievement in itself.

"He's always a threat and he's probably one of the best finishers I've ever seen. He's a good all-round player as well, but his finishing stands out.

"Preston are a strong side, they came here last season and got a good draw when we needed a win to push us on for promotion.

"It'll be a difficult match but, if we can keep our form at the level it has been, I'm sure we'll take the three points."

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