MICK McCARTHY has paid tribute to forgotten man Phil Babb for helping to steer many of Sunderland's rising stars in the right direction.

Since Babb was told in the summer he could leave, his appearances in Division One have been sparse. In fact, he made only his second League start in the win over Wimbledon on Saturday.

During that spell away from first team football the 33-year-old centre-back, who was regarded as one of the finest young defenders in the Premiership when he moved from Coventry to Liverpool in 1994, has been told to train with the Academy players on many occasions.

But instead of moaning about the situation, Babb's time with the youngsters has led to him considering taking up coaching when he retires from the game.

The former Republic of Ireland international, who made his first League appearance since the opening day of the campaign against the Dons, marked his return to the side by urging goal hero Michael Proctor to rise to his feet and fight for Sunderland's cause after picking up a late knock.

Black Cats boss McCarthy was delighted with the attitude shown by Babb.

"When Proctor got injured at the end of the game, Babb went up to him and said 'get up and play on. If you're injured get off, otherwise get up and play on'.

"I like that. I want that sort of spirit because it's a man's game. We'd have been down to nine men had Proc gone off because Kevin Kyle had been sent off. It was indicative of someone who cares and wants to win.

"Babb has never looked like playing, he has been in the reserves ever since he started the season. He has had to travel at times when he has never even been on the bench.

"He came in on Saturday and did very, very well. He gets on with it and he looks after himself.

"If he is asked to be in the first team then he comes in and trains. If he is asked to go in with the kids he goes in and trains.

"He has been very professional about it."

A setback for Gary Breen means that Babb is likely to retain his place at the heart of the Sunderland defence against Bradford City on Boxing Day.

Breen has not played since the goalless draw on November 8, when he picked up a knee injury.

He was in line for a return, but McCarthy said: "People were hoping he would be back but I was realistic and I didn't get my hopes up.

"He was still feeling it but he has had a bad medial ligament injury. We don't know when he'll be back but it will only be when he is fully fit."

There are also doubts surrounding the fitness of Proctor. The striker hurt his ankle just as he grabbed the late winner at the weekend.

But there is every chance he will shake off the problem and earn a rare start.

McCarthy said: "Proc has been scoring goals in the reserves, which is a very different league. He has had a few starts since then and the goal was fantastic for him because he has been unlucky with a few shots.

"But if he can get into a scoring vein then he has got a great chance of being a big part of my plans. He is 50-50 at the minute."

Meanwhile, full-back Michael Gray will be returning to Sunderland on December 31, but it is unclear for how long.

Celtic are thought to be still keen on taking the player north of the border permanently and it has also emerged that Premiership strugglers Wolves are also lining up a transfer window swoop.

* Cambridge have ''reluctantly'' accepted an offer from Reading, believed to be in the region of £250,000, for striker Dave Kitson.

Kitson will now discuss personal terms with the Royals, who earlier yesterday signed Lloyd Owusu from Sheffield Wednesday on a month's loan.

Kitson joined Cambridge from non-league Arlesey Town in March 2001. His present contract expires in December 2004.

Kitson scored 25 goals in all competitions last year and was named in the Professional Footballers' Association Division Three team of the season.

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