FIRST Division Wimbledon look set to sign versatile Sunderland defender Darren Holloway in a £1m deal.

The Londoners, desperate to battle their way back into the Premiership at the first attempt, are desperate to sign a top class central defender and have targeted the 22-year-old Crook-based England Under-21 international who has been with Sunderland for the past six years since leaving school.

Wimbledon, who made unsuccessful bids for Everton's Richard Dunne and Leeds United's Robert Molenaar, contacted Sunderland about Holloway earlier this week, but their first bid was rejected.

Their offer was increased to around £1m and signs are Sunderland may be prepared to sell a player who has forced his way into first team contention, playing five of the opening six games this season.

Meanwhile Republic of Ireland winger Kevin Kilbane is having his best spell of form for Sunderland - despite being played out of position.

But there are no complaints from the 23-year-old, who said last night: "I'll play anywhere as long as I'm in the team."

Kilbane made his name as a left-sided midfielder with West Brom, the position he currently occupies for Ireland.

But Sunderland manager Peter Reid has been playing him on the opposite flank to great effect and he scored the inspirational opening goal just before half time in last week's confidence-boosting 2-1 home win over Derby County.

"It is different playing on the right, but I've played there before," said Kilbane.

"The adjustment to playing in that position wasn't as daunting as some people might have expected it to be and you still get the same thing which I did on the left.

"You still get the chance to cut inside and try to get goals."

Kilbane admits that his first goal of the season against Derby was important to him and the team.

He said: "I was pleased with it - it was a little bit special for me and I was delighted to see it hit the back of the net.

"I scored one or two decent ones when I was at West Brom and hopefully I can do the same here and show the fans what I am capable of."

Sunderland supporters are starting to appreciate Kilbane's talents, which earned warm praise from Irish team-mate Niall Quinn in the build up to last week's game.

Kilbane is the first to admit it has taken him a while to settle in at Sunderland after his £2.5m transfer from the Hawthorns last December.

"I was a little concerned about my early form for Sunderland," he said.

"You start to question yourself and start to think can I cut in this division. Deep down you know you have the ability to do it but little doubts start to sneak into you mind.

"As the season's gone on I've just become more relaxed in myself and more relaxed with my team-mates and I think that has started to pay off a little bit."

Kilbane was flattered to read Quinn's complimentary remarks.

He said: "It was great to hear Niall Quinn say things like that. When I was growing up I watched Niall play and he was my boyhood hero and I was delighted with the things he said about me.

"He has been great to me - he has been trying to keep me going when things weren't going right and he has try to gee me up and tried to keep my confidence up.

"He is a fantastic player to look up to."