ROOKIE Sunderland striker Kevin Kyle has claimed that player-coach Niall Quinn is set to retire in a month's time.

Veteran frontman Quinn, 35, is struggling with chronic back and knee problems and has been restricted to substitute appearances this season.

And 21-year-old Kyle, with Berti Vogts' Scotland squad preparing for tomorrow's European Championship qualifier in the Faroe Islands, is ready to move up the striking pecking order on Wearside if former Republic of Ireland international Quinn does call it a day.

Kyle has also revealed that Sunderland's club record £8m signing Norwegian striker Tore Andre Flo from Rangers came as a "kick in the teeth'' - after he learned the Ibrox club failed in a beat-the-deadline loan move to take him in the opposite direction.

After making his full debut for Sunderland in the 1-0 home defeat by Everton nearly two weeks ago, Kyle is also understood to have attracted the attention of Motherwell, who have been alerted to the fact that he will be out of contract at the end of the season.

Kyle admitted: "Sunderland's decision to sign Tore Andre Flo from Rangers was like a kick in the teeth to me.

"It was a real knock to my confidence when I came into training on the Friday morning to find Flo and Marcus Stewart from Ipswich there as new signings.

"I'm pleased Flo scored on his debut against Manchester United last Saturday because I know he had a hard time at Rangers.

"At the back of my mind I think I might have to look at a move in January when the transfer window reopens, if I want to keep my place in the national side.

"But Niall Quinn told me not to do anything rash because he says he'll be hanging up his boots in four weeks' time.

"And our manager, Peter Reid, has said that he needs four strikers at the club.''

Meanwhile, Republic of Ireland winger Kevin Kilbane has hinted that he is ready to quit the Stadium of Light if he can't win back his first-team place.

Kilbane has been taken out of the firing line by Reid since he gestured to fans after being the target of abuse in pre-season.

"I'm not involved in games and the manager is not picking me for that pre-season incident,'' said Kilbane, who hasn't appeared since the opening day of the Premiership campaign at Blackburn.

"It does hurt and I want to be back in the side. When you are not even on the bench it makes it worse. When you get a bit of stick from the terraces, you have to take it, and I've got to get on with things now.

"I believe I'm good enough to be playing in the side, but you can't be playing reserve-team football for the rest of your career.''

* Sunderland yesterday warned the £10m splashed out on strikers Tore Andre Flo from Rangers and Marcus Stewart from Ipswich is likely to dent club coffers for the current financial year.

Peter Reid spent the whole summer chasing additions to his strikeforce but a trading update suggests finances may be stretched.

It read: ''The directors believe that, as a result of the investment outlined above, the company's results for the current financial year may be materially below market expectations.''

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