SUNDERLAND were last night on the verge of signing Middlesbrough's Stewart Downing on loan.

Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren confirmed Downing is set to join the Black Cats this week with talks between the clubs at an advanced stage.

The capture of Downing would end Mick McCarthy's two-month search for a left-sided midfielder that began following the sale of Kevin Kilbane to Everton.

The Sunderland manager has tried to fill the void created by Kilbane's exit by deploying a handful of right-footed players on the left, notably Thomas Butler and Tommy Smith.

But Downing, who has made just three first-team appearances this season, could now make his Black Cats debut at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

Although Sunderland are poised to add Downing to their promotion-chasing squad, they have failed with a £1m bid for Huddersfield Town striker Jon Stead.

They offered a £500,000 down payment, with a further £500,000 dependent on appearances, but Third Division Huddersfield rejected the approach.

Stead, 20, has scored 11 goals in 17 appearances this season - including one in Huddersfield's 4-2 Carling Cup win at the Stadium of Light last month.

Meanwhile, Sean Thornton has warned his teammates he is prepared to battle his way back into the side after slipping down the Sunderland pecking order.

Thornton, currently facing a three-week lay-off with an ankle injury, has not started a first-team game since September 16.

But he said: "It's up to me to prove to the gaffer that I should play when I'm fit again.

"I'm not scared to fight for my place and what has happened over the last few weeks has only made me keener to get back in the team.

"It's been a frustrating time for me. I thought I did well last season, and after scoring a few goals this season I thought I was flying.

"But my suspensions set me back and I found myself on the bench when I returned. That was disappointing, and now the injury has set me back even further."