MICK McCARTHY is well aware that being a football manager should come with a government health warning - but the Sunderland boss admitted he wouldn't have it any other way.

Today's visitors to the Stadium of Light, Queens Park Rangers, are managed by Ian Holloway, who starred in the recent BBC documentary, The Stress Test.

Holloway proved compulsive viewing as he swore his way up and down the touchline, and McCarthy similarly wants to be involved when the going gets tough on the pitch.

In a sport that has recently seen the high-profile heart problems of former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier, McCarthy empathised with Holloway as his stress levels went off the scales on camera.

"I can relate to that - absolutely," said McCarthy. "Football's our livelihood though, and we do get immersed in it.

"I saw Sam Allardyce and Dave Bassett on television a couple of years back when their stress levels were monitored.

"We're all aware of the stresses and strains of the game but when I'm shouting at the lads or the referee from the sidelines I'm not thinking that I might be going to have a heart attack - I might stop if I did!

"It was said to me by Dario Gradi (Crewe's manager) the other night you're going to have a heart attack if you carry on like that.

"But maybe he was like me when he was a bit younger. It's what I love doing and it's what I enjoy doing. It's the next best thing to playing."

After just two games of the Coca-Cola Championship, early indications are that it will be another stressful season for McCarthy.

No team in the division have won both their games and the Sunderland manager believes it will be a similar story all the way to May.

He said: "It will be a tough league this term. Teams will be constantly taking points off each other.

"Leeds started with a win last Saturday, got full of hope and were then slapped down at Gillingham.

"After Saturday I wasn't best pleased when we were bottom of the league. But I wasn't suicidal either."

Sunderland did get off the mark with a 3-1 win over Crewe on Tuesday night, but the Black Cats boss won't be too concerned about league positions until his team have played at least ten games.

He said: "You may look after six or seven games, see you're twelfth and know that you're playing well and you will get better.

"You can be optimistic about your position.

"You can, after six or seven games, which has happened to teams, be in the top two or three and know you've scraped through one or two games and not been as good as your position suggests.

"I think ten games into the league, or even more, gives a true reflection.

"It can be even longer if you look at Crystal Palace's rise to the Premiership last season - they were bottom three at Christmas."

McCarthy's stress levels could be stretched further this morning when he discovers the extent of Gary Breen's hamstring problem.

The skipper is a major doubt for the QPR game and didn't train yesterday.

McCarthy, however, is hopeful Kevin Kyle will be able to start despite the club still struggling to determine the exact extent of the hip problem that is restricting the Scottish striker's movement.

Sunderland have confirmed the signing of former Dumbarton defender Neill Collins.

The 20-year-old will cost the club in the region of £25,000 and the Ayrshire-born centre-back has put pen to paper on a two-year deal at the Stadium of Light.

McCarthy said: "Neill was recommended to me and he came down for a trial. We've had players in training, trialling, and Neill was one who impressed me.

McCarthy is unlikely to offer deals to trialists Dean Gordon and French striker Juliene Poueys.

Gordon yesterday signed a short-term deal at League Two Grimsby Town.