SUNDERLAND manager Mick McCarthy has warned former skipper Michael Gray that he faces a fight to win back his first-team place.

Gray is set to return to the squad for today's clash with Bradford City at Valley Parade after being ommitted from the party for the 2-0 victories over Preston and Watford following the birth of his child.

The 29-year-old left-back was expected to be a casualty of the Black Cats' summer clear-out.

But while the likes of Kevin Phillips, Thomas Sorensen and Gavin McCann have moved on, there have be no takers for Gray.

With the top-flight transfer deadline looming tomorrow, Gray is resigned to spending at least another four months in the Nationwide League.

He has started only one game this season - the Carling Cup first-round win at Mansfield - and has since seen Argentinian crowd favourite Julio Arca become the latest player to fill the problem left-back position.

And McCarthy, though fulsome in his praise of Gray's attitude at a time of worry and uncertainty personally and professionally, he is making no guarantees about his future role on Wearside.

McCarthy, who has also used George McCartney at left-back this season, said: "Mickey's attitude has been terrific and that's pleasing.

"He's been out of the squad, but I've not had any problems with him. The only reason he was out last weekend was because of personal circumstances.

"But he said would I mind if I got somebody to drive his car to Preston so he could be there if needed.

"I told him to stay where he was, but that showed how much he wanted to be involved.

"We'll know who's not going anywhere until January once Monday comes.

"But people don't just come into the reckoning because they are senior players and have been around for a while. They have to be better than the lads who have been playing.''

All of a sudden, the talk is of winning runs at Sunderland after they averted the shame of equalling Darwen's 104-year-old record of 18 consecutive League defeats.

McCarthy, who had presided over 11 of the reverses since succeeding Howard Wilkinson in March, admitted: "Two wins makes this a far happier place to be - everybody has been lifted.

"Playing well is one thing, but you have to win. Somewhere down the line, if you win a few or lose a few, people will start talking about records.

"We just have to concentrate on beating Bradford. Each game in this league will be difficult; we saw that against Preston and Watford. I thought we played some excellent football in those games.''

McCarthy knows Bradford boss Nicky Law well from their days together as players at Barnsley.

"He's done very well and I'm pleased for him,'' said McCarthy, who refused to read anything into Sunderland's impressive record at Bradford since they last lost there 14 years ago.

Five successive victories have followed - including two 4-0 wins and a 4-1 success on their last visit - with 14 goals scored and only one conceded.

"Past records don't mean anything to me,'' stressed McCarthy. "This is a different team and a different era.''

The Black Cats' boss is looking to striker Marcus Stewart to add to his two goals in as many games.

"He has a proven record of scoring and I think the ones who make the difference are those players,'' said McCarthy.

"I remember when I was at Millwall and Derby were promoted, it was Dean Sturridge who scored the goals for them.

"Newcastle signed Andy Cole and he was the difference for them when they came to our place in their promotion season.''

Sunderland have kept successive clean sheets and goalkeeper Mart Poom believes the introduction of new signing Gary Breen has been a major factor.

Poom said: "As a keeper or a defender, you enjoy clean sheets. Gary has been a massive help to the team since he arrived. He's an excellent defender, a good organiser and he's not afraid to talk and give advice.

"We've got two wins and we want to build from here.

"We've not played the likes of West Brom, West Ham and Sheffield United yet, but we're afraid of no-one.''

Poom, signed in January by Wilkinson from Derby County for £2.5m, has taken over as Sunderland's No 1 from Sorensen, who moved to Aston Villa this month.

"I was injured when I came last season and I only played four games,'' said Poom. "I have never had any regrets about coming here.

"Thomas Sorensen is a fantastic keeper and was No 1 here for a long time, but hopefully I'll do even better than him for Sunderland.''

McCarthy welcomes back skipper Jason McAteer from a hamstring injury, but defender Ben Clark is out of contention for two weeks with a broken nose.

* Sunderland have decided against signing former West Ham defender Clive Delaney, who has been on a ten-day trial.