KEVIN KYLE has not made the most perfect of starts to life in Niall Quinn's legendary No 9 Sunderland shirt.

After 31 appearances - 17 as substitute - Kyle is still searching for his first League goal in a red and white shirt.

Quinn was never the most prolific of scorers; his strike partner Kevin Phillips took the pressure of being the main man in front of goal on his shoulders, but it's fair to say he chipped in with his fair share.

And now Kyle, whose only two goals for the club have been in the Carling Cup, looks like enjoying a similar partnership up front alongside Marcus Stewart, the club's new No 10 following the summer departure of Phillips to Southampton.

Stewart has witnessed at close hand the impact made on the Sunderland line-up by his side-kick, who has started all of the Black Cats' last three victories.

And the former Ipswich Town man believes it will not be long before Kyle finds the back of the net on a consistent basis, hopefully starting with a goal against Crystal Palace this afternoon.

Once the towering Scottish international does beat the keeper, Stewart is convinced his teammate, along with Irish midfielder Sean Thornton, will become a household name, both on the domestic and international scenes.

"When I played with Kevin in the reserves last year we did very well together. It's not a surprise to see him do well now," said Stewart, who has scored three times this campaign.

"People forget he's only 22. He's got a good touch and he'll score a lot of goals throughout his career and he'll be a big name.

"Kevin Kyle will definitely become a regular international, as will Sean Thornton, who has real ability. They're the first two that come to mind.

"If the lads keep going as they are they will do well. Practice makes perfect."

Sunderland return to action against Palace at the Stadium of Light today after a two-week rest due to international call-ups.

The break came at the wrong time for Mick McCarthy's men, who had finally turned the corner after a disastrous spell of 17 straight defeats.

Now, after claiming a maximum nine-point haul from their last three matches, Sunderland are looking candidates for at least a play-off place.

Stewart admits he does not know how the squad will react following the lack of action over the past fortnight.

He said: "A break can work for you and against you. I don't think you can tell that until after the game. We were on a good run at the time. Maybe it will be a bad thing.

"If you are on a bad run a break gives you the chance to gather your thoughts and recuperate for the next game.

"The rest has given Jason McAteer a nice little gap in which to get fit. It's been positive on that count but I honestly don't know how the team will react."

McCarthy offloaded 17 senior players during the summer - including star names Phillips, Thomas Sorensen and Gavin McCann.

It was a period when the manager was not in a position to plan for the future because there was transfer activity right up until the closure of the transfer window on September 1.

But Stewart, who admitted he was shocked by the departure of Kevin Kilbane to Everton, believes having a settled squad now will benefit McCarthy and the remaining Sunderland players.

"The manager must be delighted because he knows what he's got to work with," he said. "We have got rid of half the squad we had here last year and I'm sure the conditions are a lot better for him to work in.

"It wasn't a shock when most of them were sold but the one that did surprise me was Kevin Kilbane. We haven't really got any cover in that position. But with the financial situation someone came in with money and it had to be done.

"I think we'll miss Kevin and I don't know if the fans appreciated him as much as the players did, because I knew he worked very hard and I know the things he did as player. I miss him very much and I hope he does well there and I think he will."

If Stewart is concerned by the hole left by Kilbane on the left, McCarthy certainly is not.

Thomas Butler, John Oster and Matt Piper can all play there, as can Thornton, who has started the season as a central midfielder.

McCarthy also revealed that he would not hesitate in playing Julio Arca in that role again, despite the South American's impressive form as a left-back.

"If I had to put Arca into midfield I don't think he would have any problem with that," said the Sunderland chief.

"But he likes to play at left-back and I don't want to move him about too much."

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