REALISTIC Marcus Stewart has warned Sunderland supporters that promotion is not a formality despite a massive turnaround in fortunes on Wearside.

After losing their opening two Division One matches - to Nottingham Forest and Millwall - the Black Cats have shrugged off the disappointments of Premiership relegation with an impressive run of form.

Sunderland have now lost just once in the League since, at Stoke City last month, and are hoping to win their fourth successive match when Cardiff City visit the Stadium of Light tomorrow night.

The ambitious Bluebirds, managed by ex-Middlesbrough boss Lennie Lawrence, have their own eyes on a play-off place.

And striker Stewart admits if Sunderland are to seriously push for a top two place then they must continue to defeat the clubs around them in the league - like Sheffield United and Reading recently.

"It's good to get points off the teams who are tipped, along with ourselves, to go up such as Reading and Sheffield United, " said Stewart, who tasted promotion with Ipswich Town.

"Those were two good results but it doesn't mean that we can relax because we have to win against every team that is up there.

"It's just as important that we grind results out sometimes as outplay teams.

"We've still got a lot of difficult games to come - against the likes of West Ham, Nottingham Forest and West Brom - so to get three points against the teams expected to be there or thereabouts in May is a real achievement."

Sunderland have still to play leaders West Brom and West Ham United - the two clubs who followed Mick McCarthy's side through the Nationwide League trapdoor - before the turn of the year.

And Stewart believes it is not until the New Year that Sunderland will be able to seriously consider a return to the top-flight after just one season away from the elite.

But he is taking nothing for granted. He told the club's official website: "I think the time when you look at the table and think 'we have a chance here' is in January.

"You can get an idea of how things will pan out now. One or two teams will drop down throughout the season and there are always a couple who make a late push.

"But once the Christmas period is over, things really start to take shape. If you get through that with a few wins under your belt then you can really kick on in the second half of the season.

We are only a quarter of the way through and so it is still early to start looking that far ahead."

Transfer-listed Clarence Acuna is convinced being out of Newcastle United's first team plans has ended his days as an international.

The Chile midfielder has not played for the Magpies since February and has been told he can leave by manager Sir Bobby Robson.

Now the 28-year-old's boss for his country, Juvenal Olmos, has overlooked him in the squad for future World Cup 2006 qualifiers.

And Acuna, who is more angry with Olmos than Newcastle, admits he wants to work his way back into Robson's first team.

"I can honestly say I don't know what has happened, " he said. "Since playing against Costa Rica in June I've heard nothing from my national team.

"I'm surprised because I wanted to play in all of Chile's World Cup qualifiers and worked hard once I was fit again in pre-season to prepare for them.

"Olmos has talked about picking people who are playing regularly for their clubs and I think that is what is counting against me.

"But then there are others who aren't playing for their clubs, haven't played for six months or don't even have a club, who are in the squad.

"I'm not one to over-dramatise things but that hurts. I just have to accept I'm no longer important to Chile. Now I will concern myself only with my club and my future."