REPUBLIC of Ireland international Jason McAteer believes his former Blackburn boss, Graeme Souness, did him a huge favour allowing him to move to Sunderland in a £1m deal.

At the time McAteer wasn't too pleased to be shown the door at Ewood Park, but after a month on Wearside he realises that the switch has revitalised his career.

The 30-year-old Merseysider was Sunderland's star player in the surprise 2-0 home win over championship contenders Leeds United - his first taste of victory after four games with his new club.

McAteer, who is now looking forward to playing in next year's World Cup finals after the 2-1 aggregate Irish victory over Iran, now believes he has occasion to thank Souness for telling him he had no future at Blackburn.

He said: "I was devastated at the time - but looking back over the last couple of weeks he was right."

McAteer believes his midfield talents are seen in a completely different light at Sunderland.

He said: "I have found it really easy to settle in here. I have come to a club where I am appreciated by the staff, which I don't think I was at Blackburn.

"I don't think I have a point to prove because I am comfortable with my own ability.

"I remember playing in Portugal for Ireland in a World Cup qualifier and couldn't get a game for Blackburn against Gillingham!

"I just found it really hard at Blackburn and Graeme Souness and I didn't see eye to eye on football terms.

"He actually said a week before my transfer that it would be good if I left Blackburn Rovers.

"I was devastated at the time but looking back over the last few weeks he wasn't wrong, was he?

"I have qualified for the World Cup finals with Ireland and have helped to beat the possible League champions."

McAteer added: "I was quite settled at Blackburn and I enoyed being there. I got on well with the players and most of the staff.

"But when a manager tells you that you are not in his plans you are very disappointed.

"I feel I am an honest lad and I always give 110 percent, and I have always had a good rapport with the fans at Bolton, Liverpool and Blackburn."

McAteer believes he has responded in the best possible way and is looking forward to achieving greater things in his career.

He admitted: "No-one likes being told basically they are not good enough to be in someone's team.

"You have got to roll your sleeves up and show character. I believed in my own ability and I just needed someone else to believe in me and that's what Peter Reid has done.

"I think when I have got someone who believes in me and puts their arm round me and tells me things I want to hear I will carry on producing performances like I did against Leeds United."

McAteer is certainly pleased to have moved to a soccer-mad area like the North-East rather than seek his fortune under the bright lights of London.

He said: "I am from Liverpool, which is very much a football environment - everyone eats, drinks and sleeps football.

"I have come up here and it is very much the same. You've got Sunderland and Newcastle, both massive football clubs. Football is a way of life up here.

"You go to London and it's not really like that. There are plenty of other things to do and there are so many distractions. Here you can see what the people want. When we don't get a result they are very disappointed, but when we win they are over the moon."

McAteer added: "The players can sense that and we got out to give our best.

"Since I've been here we've played really well. At Leicester we were so unlucky, against Arsenal maybe we should have got more out of the game than a draw and against Middlesbrough I thought we were the better team.

"It's only been a matter of time and it's been good we've done it against Leeds."

* Australia striker Mark Viduka is expecting a 'dirty tricks' war against Uruguay today in a match he rates as the biggest of his career.

The Socceroos face the South Americans in the first leg of a winner-takes-all play-off in Melbourne, with the prize being the last place up for grabs in next summer's World Cup finals.

Leeds star Viduka is desperate to play in Japan and South Korea, particularly after the heartbreak of four years ago when he watched Australia lose another play-off with Iran, a game in which United team-mate Harry Kewell was involved.

But Viduka, who will lead the line alongside Kewell, is aware the Uruguayans bring with them a reputation for underhand tactics on the pitch.

Kewell at least has the distinction of scoring a golden-goal winner against Uruguay in a Confederations Cup match in 1997, the only previous time the two nations have met

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