SUNDERLAND boss Mick McCarthy has entered the race for Morten Gamst Pedersen after suggesting he was ready to run the rule over the Norwegian starlet, writes Paul Fraser.

Pedersen, also being monitored by North-East rivals Newcastle, made his fourth appearance for his country in the friendly with Wales last night.

And McCarthy had contacted Norway boss Aage Hareide in a bid to find out whether it was worth making the trip to Oslo to see the striker, also adept on the left wing, play.

Blackburn Rovers are ready to offer around £1.5m for Pedersen and the Black Cats may find it difficult to match that following their failure to reach the Premiership.

Hareide, a massive fan of Pedersen's talents, has a close relationship with the player and they have discussed the 22-year-old's future.

The Norway manager believes that his side's rising sensation should choose his next move carefully by making sure wherever he goes he will not spend the majority of time on the bench.

It seems only a matter of time before Tromso cash in on their prize asset and Hareide admitted: "He (McCarthy) called me on Tuesday to hear whether Pedersen was going to play against Wales. He was not going to travel if Pedersen was not going to play.

"I said he was going to start but I also said he might not play the whole game as he has played a lot of games lately.

"Morten has asked me for advice on where to take his next step. I have told him he has to got to make sure he goes where he will play regularly."

Another Norwegian's future on Wearside looks bleak and Thomas Myhre is trying to find a club outside England.

The 31-year-old, who has a year left on his contract at Sunderland, has been linked with a switch to his homeland with Viking.

However, Myhre would prefer a move to southern Europe and he could yet move to Italy and team up with fellow countryman Tore Andre Flo at Siena.

The goalkeeper, who has become Norway's No 1 again, nearly left Sunderland in January for Crystal Palace. A breakdown over personal terms led to Myhre returning as back-up to Mart Poom.

But now the Scandinavian is stepping up his bid to turn his back on the North-East during the summer. "If I get to choose I won't be a Sunderland player next season," Myhre said.

"But I don't think Sunderland are interested either. There is not room for both me and Mart Poom at Sunderland. Either at a sporting level or economically."

McCarthy has reiterated his belief that Sunderland should be challenging for the top two when the campaign restarts in August.

And McCarthy, on the day the club have asked for supporters to renew their season tickets by June 30, has asked the fans to push them to glory.

"What myself, the players and everyone at the club wants is to be in the Premiership and that's what we'll be striving for," said McCarthy. "I'll be using the close season to take a look at the squad and freshen things up. Our ultimate goal will be achieving promotion, and we'll be looking to do it automatically this time!"

* Centre-back Patrick Collins, released by Sunderland, is set to join Sheffield Wednesday.

* Viv Busby has left Swindon, where he was youth team coach, due to the club's money problems.

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