SUNDERLAND striker Michael Proctor last night told the doom-mongers: "It's too early to write us off.''

The relegated Black Cats are second bottom in Division One after starting the campaign with defeats away to Nottingham Forest and at home to Millwall.

Another at Preston on Saturday will see Mick McCarthy's side equal the worst-ever League run of 18 straight defeats set by Darwen in season 1898-99.

But Proctor, who with Kevin Kyle and Marcus Stewart is burdened with Sunderland's attacking expectations after the departure of Kevin Phillips to Southampton, remains resolutely upbeat about his home-town club's prospects this season.

Proctor said: "It's much too early to look at the league table. We've only played two games and the team has changed massively from last year with so many people leaving.

"There are a lot of young players and it's going to take time for everyone to get used to each other.

"I'm not using that as an excuse, because we know we're good enough to beat teams at this level.

"It's too early to be reading anything into results. By now, we would have expected six points instead of none.

"But we have to look forward and one thing we won't be worrying about is records.

"We're all aware of the talk, but we're not taking any notice of that. We know we can put things right over the Bank Holiday weekend with the games at Preston and here against Watford on Monday, and that's what we're determined to do.

"There's been an awful lot of turbulence here, but we have to put that behind us now.

"There's still a great team spirit and the financial situation at the club and the wage deferrals have brought us closer together if anything.

"Now it's up to us to push on and give the fans something to smile about.''

Meanwhile, Sunderland's Norwegian goalkeeper Thomas Myhre, plagued by groin trouble, is back in training and hopes to be playing again in three weeks' time.

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