MICK McCARTHY was last night hailed by midfielder Jason McAteer for guiding Sunderland out of the darkness and within sight of a quick return to the Premiership.

When McCarthy took over last March the Black Cats were already destined for Nationwide League football and he was unable to halt an disastrous run of League defeats.

Sunderland's consecutive losses stretched to 17 at the start of this campaign and it was a victory over today's opponents, Preston North End, in August which stopped the rot, ensuring they did not equal an unwanted record held by Darwen for over 100 years.

That form is a far cry from where Sunderland are now, just four points adrift of an automatic promotion place in Division One.

McAteer, who played under McCarthy while he was in charge of the Republic of Ireland, believes most of the praise should lie firmly at the feet of the manager.

But the experienced former Liverpool star also suggested that the squad's youngsters should not be forgotten following the way they have gone about replacing stars in the Gavin McCann and Kevin Phillips mould.

"The gaffer has got to take a lot of credit for what's happened," said McAteer. "The young lads have also been absolutely fantastic. They have stepped into the big-name players' shoes and been superb.

"We have got on with our football and we haven't listened to what has gone on financially since the beginning of the season, when we had the wage deferrals.

"I have just got to help make sure that all we are thinking about is promotion. The gaffer has always wanted to get promoted because he doesn't want to stay in the First Division and consolidate.

"He has installed that feeling into this squad and we all want to be playing the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal every week."

When Preston succumbed to Sunderland at the start of the campaign both sides were struggling.

Now, however, in stark contrast, both are in the promotion shake-up, with the Lillywhites just four points behind today's fourth-placed opponents.

And McCarthy admits a huge weight was lifted off the shoulders of everyone at the club when Sunderland finally started to turn things around at Deepdale in August.

"It was the best result possible at that time because the damage a defeat would have done here would have been enormous," he said.

"To be associated with that record would have been negative for everyone

"It was a great result for us and we have turned things around from then on."

Since that encounter, Sunderland have lost just five league games and have progressed through to the last 16 of the FA Cup - something not achieved by Preston, who were beaten by Swansea of Division Three last weekend.

"I don't think their defeat down there will enter Craig's head this weekend," said McCarthy. "It's a different matter because they have been doing well in the league."

Preston should have 15-goal striker Ricardo Fuller in their line-up this afternoon, providing Middlesbrough have not agreed a deal for the Jamaican.

And McCarthy, who only has Stephen Wright, Matt Piper and Colin Healy out through injury, insists they have not made any special plans to deal with his threat.

"Fuller will get the same treatment that everyone else gets and that is that there will be no quarter given and there will be none asked for," said McCarthy.

"Apart from the slip up at Millwall two weeks ago, Jocky Bjorklund and Phil Babb have been terrific for us and I'm sure they will be looking forward to coming up against Fuller."

* Huddersfield have turned down a third and final bid by Premiership side Blackburn for striker Jon Stead.

Sunderland tabled an £850,000 bid for the player in October but the Terriers have been holding out for a bid in excess of £1.5m.

Manager Peter Jackson said last night: "I am delighted we have been able to turn down the bid.

"It was a big decision for everyone concerned and I believe we have come to the right one."

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