SHOWING the self-assurance that had deserted his teammates on the Rugby Park pitch, Michael Proctor skilfully sidestepped the most innocuous of questions.

Would you be disappointed, Michael, if you weren't in the starting line-up for the first game of the season at Nottingham Forest?

"I'm just happy enough to be involved, to be honest," Proctor flat-batted. "I hope I've done enough to start next Saturday, but we'll see what the manager says."

What the manager ought to say is that Marcus Stewart - the man previously expected to carry Sunderland's goal burden this season - has been usurped by Proctor and Kevin Kyle.

Whereas Stewart was lethargic on Saturday, Proctor was lively; the former Ipswich Town forward was profligate in contrast to his prolific colleague.

And with Kyle again showing encouraging glimpses of his promise, Mick McCarthy should have his strike pairing sorted for the big kick-off.

The make-up of the remainder of McCarthy's first Nationwide League team, on the other hand, is nowhere near as clearcut.

Ben Clark and Stephen Wright were frequently found wanting as Kilmarnock capitalised on Sunderland's defensive shortcomings.

With Jody Craddock now gone, who plays at centre-back? Even Joachim Bjorklund, seemingly the first choice now, has been no more than adequate in that position.

Thomas Butler, for one, might have played himself out of contention for a starting spot at the City Ground with a disappointing display in Scotland.

And that is not to even touch on the vexed question of what McCarthy does with the likes of Kevin Phillips, Thomas Sorensen and Tore Andre Flo if they are still at Sunderland this Saturday.

Five friendlies without a win hardly represents the kind of build-up that McCarthy wanted as he attempts to end the Black Cats' 15-game losing run in the League.

Yet Proctor said: "We were disappointed with the result but we could take positives from the game.

"We had the better of them until the last 15 minutes, and I think things are going the right way ahead of next Saturday.

"We've had a lot of competitive games, and it's been good from a fitness and footballing point of view.

"We're as prepared as we could be for next Saturday."

Sunderland were having the better of the game at 2-2 when Kilmarnock hit them with two goals in the final ten minutes, from Kris Boyd and Danny Invincibile.

But to dwell on the possible misfortune of the Black Cats' defeat would be to ignore their many failings during a fractious encounter.

As early as the eighth minute, a bad defensive error left Poom exposed and gave Colin Nish the simple task of putting Kilmarnock in front.

Proctor then showed his predatory instincts when he seized on a loose ball to equalise after Kyle had had his shot saved.

But Sunderland's capacity for self-destruction remains intact, despite the change of division, and Clark's hesitancy allowed Boyd to fire home from long range.

Kyle won a penalty, and after seeing his spot-kick saved Proctor levelled from the rebound.

But Stewart then wasted the most glorious of chances, and he was made to pay for his wastefulness when Killie's late flourish brought them victory.

KILMARNOCK (4-4-2): Meldrum; Shields, Innes, Dindelux (Mahood 23min, McDonald 57), Dillon (Hay 65); Fowler, Hessey, Fulton, Di Giacomo (Boyd 46); McSwegan (Invincibile 46), Nish. Sub (not used): Samson (gk).

SUNDERLAND (4-4-2): Poom; Wright (Williams 46), Bjorklund (James 74), Clark, McCartney; Thornton, McAteer (Whitley 46), Thirlwell, Butler (Oster 65); Kyle (Stewart 57), Proctor. Subs (not used): Kilbane, Ingham (gk).

Result: Kilmarnock 4, Sunderland 2.

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