MATT PIPER'S £3.5m move to Sunderland has prompted England Under-21 boss David Platt to call the winger into his squad for the first time.

The 20-year-old former Leicester City player is in the party for Friday's friendly against Yugoslavia at Bolton's Reebok Stadium. Piper is one of seven Sunderland men on international duty this week.

Phil Babb, Jason McAteer and Kevin Kilbane are in the Republic of Ireland squad for Saturday's European Championship qualifier against Russia in Moscow, while Thomas Sorensen is with Denmark to face Norway and Kevin Kyle is in the Scotland party for the trip to the Faroe Islands.

Thomas Butler and Cliffy Byrne are also in Ireland's Under-21 squad for their game in Russia.

Meanwhile, Sunderland striker Marcus Stewart was celebrating when girlfriend Vicki gave birth to a baby boy - only 15 minutes before Saturday's home match against Manchester United.

Finlay was born at 2.45, just as Sunderland were lining up.

Stewart, who joined the Black Cats from Ipswich on Friday in a deadline-beating move, pulled out of the squad and headed back to Suffolk when Vicki went into labour hours before the game.

But Stewart, 29, will be back on Wearside on Thursday to prepare for a possible debut in Tuesday's derby clash with Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.

The £10m double signing of Stewart and Tore Andre Flo, coupled with victory at Leeds and the draw with Manchester United, has met with a favourable response on Wearside. Sunderland yesterday announced that they have been inundated with enquiries about season tickets.

As a result, the club are offering fans another chance to buy season tickets, which will run from the Aston Villa game on Saturday, September 28, for the remaining 16 matches of the season.

Season tickets will be available for a limited period only and will go on sale from 10.00am tomorrow.

Prices start at £85 for under 12s and £270 for adults in concession areas.

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