CLUB captain Jason McAteer last night cursed his own luck and then gave George McCartney his personal blessing to lead Sunderland out in Sunday's FA Cup semi-final.

McAteer was handed the skipper's armband by manager Mick McCarthy in the summer but, following an injury-ravaged opening few months, McCartney took over the role in September.

After being told by manager Mick McCarthy on his return to fitness that the match-day captaincy was to remain with McCartney, the effervescent midfielder was happy with the outcome.

Now, with a semi-final with Millwall at Old Trafford rapidly approaching, the experienced McAteer joked the 22-year-old has landed firmly on his feet.

Success over Sunderland's Division One rivals will set up a date with either Manchester United or Arsenal in the Cardiff showpiece on May 22 - when McCartney could lift the most famous club trophy in the world for the first time since 1973.

"I spoke to the gaffer at the beginning of the season when he told me that he wanted to keep me here. At that time I told him I wanted more responsibility," said McAteer. "He gave me the armband after losing Michael Gray and it was an absolute honour.

"I got injured and George took over. We've just ran with it and ran with it and sod's law we have ended up in the semi-final of a Cup. Now the lucky devil could be leading the team out in a final and I'm gutted!

"George has been fantastic, though, and I certainly don't want to take that back from him - unless of course he wants to give me it back! Wouldn't that be nice of him," he added with a smile.

The Republic of Ireland international was named captain on the opening day of the campaign at Nottingham Forest but a hamstring tear ruled him out for over a month.

McAteer's return to action against Crystal Palace in September lasted just 34 minutes when he pulled his other hamstring and was sidelined until December - opening the door for McCartney to take over the role.

But the 32-year-old former Liverpool, Blackburn and Bolton star still uses his years in the game to take team talks.

McAteer said: "I've been dealt a great hand in my career and I wouldn't really regret it if George led the team out in a final.

"To be club captain in a final would be enough for me, honest. Seriously, I have got my head around it and I will be fine."

McAteer should have been playing for his country in a friendly with the Czech Republic tonight but an agreement was reached between McCarthy and Irish boss Brian Kerr not to consider the player.

And the Sunderland middle-man, who could have also been joined in the Republic squad by Gary Breen, said: "The lads and the manager have had to be sensible about it really. Mick doesn't want to take a chance with us playing a friendly at international level.

"Brian knows how important this game is going to be for us players because we might not ever do this again. It's a one-off game. If one of us went away to play for Ireland, picked up an injury and we couldn't play on Sunday then that player would remember it for the rest of his life.

"Playing for your country is a great honour and the highest thing you can do but sometimes you have got to be sensible about it and fair play to Brian."

John Oster (hamstring) and Kevin Kyle (gastroenteritis) are both hopeful of recovering in time to face the Lions, while full-back Stephen Wright is more doubtful with an ankle problem.

l Millwall chairman Theo Paphitis has vowed to run around London naked if Millwall reach Europe by beating Sunderland at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Player-manager Dennis Wise said: ''Theo joked and said that if we get into Europe he would take all his clothes off and run around London. But I never got it in writing and I'm still waiting.''