JET-lagged Julio Arca insisted last night that he will be ready for Sunderland's crucial clash with Liverpool at the Stadium of Light tomorrow.

The winger told Sunderland manager Peter Reid "count me in" after he finally returned from playing in the South American Youth Cup.

Arca admitted he is feeling the strain of skippering Argentina's under-20's to second place in the month-long championship in Ecuador.

But the 19-year-old said arriving back on Wearside: "A match against Liverpool is attractive enough to make me forget how tired I am."

Manager Reid will assess Arca's sharpness in training today before deciding whether to play the winger, whose absence has been a key factor in Sunderland's recent goal drought.

Reid said: "Julio has been a miss and his return will boost us. He has been exceptional for us this season."

It will be an awkward decision for Reid and the probability is that he will choose to rest Arca after his arduous month, particularly since the Argentinian will be needed at West Ham next week when players are certain to be out through suspensions.

Reid's team have failed to hit the target in three of their four league games since Arca left for South America - and could be without striker Niall Quinn tomorrow

Quinn is still having treatment on a neck injury and admitted: "I don't want to make any predictions about whether I will be fit. It's a wait and see job.

"I've got to be patient, but it's hard with so many big games coming. I would be gutted to miss out."

Defender Emerson Thome is definitely ruled out tomorrow because of a calf strain and is also likely to miss next week's FA Cup tie against West Ham.

Thome admitted: "It's a real blow. This is the first time I've been sidelined by an injury since I came into English football."

Sunderland have lost their last two league games, but will go back into third place if they overcome Gerard Houllier's in-form outfit tomorrow.

"We need a good result," admitted Swedish international Stefan Schwarz, whose place will be under threat if Reid decides to recall Arca.

"We've lost two in a row and we don't like it. It's important to get a good result against Liverpool. There aren't many games left and we need to put together another good run."

Sunderland have lost only eight home games since they moved to the Stadium of Light in 1997. "We're always confident at our stadium," said Schwarz.

l Gerard Houllier believes it is payback time from Liverpool's problem child, Robbie Fowler, starting with tomorrow's crunch game at the Stadium of Light..

The form, fitness and commitment of Fowler in recent weeks after a season of torment on and off the field is delighting the Anfield chief just as the club approach their most important two weeks in years.

''He had to sort himself out, it was only a matter of time,'' said the Liverpool manager of Fowler. Five crucial matches in all four competitions they are contesting is just the right time for Fowler to be returning to peak form.

And Houllier believes Fowler's recent response underlines a personal bond and respect between player and manager.

''Robbie is paying back the faith that I put in him and I think he is paying back the man more than he is the manager, because the manager represents the club,'' said Houllier.

Fowler can expect to be skipper again at Sunderland tomorrow