SUNDERLAND'S search for a new defender has led to Everton contract rebel Alan Stubbs arriving on Wearside for a trial.

Stubbs refused to accept a year's extension to his deal at the end of last season and has been looking for a new club since becoming a free agent.

The 33-year-old has been training in local parks on his own this summer in a bid to stay fit and has been hoping to secure a move to a Premiership club.

Both Aston Villa and his first club Bolton have been credited with an interest but Sunderland have moved in first and he has started training with the club.

The Black Cats, who lost out to West Ham in their quest to sign Stoke's Clive Clarke, are facing up to the possibility of having a defensive crisis before the start of the campaign next week.

George McCartney and Danny Collins are both sidelined, while Julio Arca is also nursing a knock picked up after a heavy challenge from Sheffield United's Danny Webber on Saturday.

Manager Mick McCarthy knows he needs to strengthen his backline before the curtain-raiser against Charlton and Stubbs' availability looks to have come at the right time for both parties.

The Scouser, who is a friend of ex-Sunderland midfielder Jason McAteer from their days together at Bolton, was a vital part of Everton's push to fourth place last season.

But, despite potentially having the chance to play in the Champions League with the Toffees, Stubbs refused to accept the terms laid out in front of him.

The former Celtic man was one of three to reject a new contract - along with ex-Newcastle players Steve Watson and Alessandro Pistone - but is the only one whose future remains uncertain.

Stubbs made 117 appearances for Everton and spent five years at Celtic - where he won a battle against testicular cancer - until he moved to Goodison Park in 2001.

Sunderland's hopes of landing Stoke's Clarke ended when he moved to West Ham. The 25-year-old had been targeted by McCarthy but the player believes he has a better chance of avoiding relegation from the Premiership by turning down Sunderland.

"Out of the three teams promoted, I think West Ham have the best chance of staying up," Clarke said. "The manager has already signed some good players and hopefully there's a little bit more money to buy another top striker as well."

Sunderland have also invited one of the players they came across on their tour of North America for a trial.

Portland Timbers' defender Scot Thompson is expected on Wearside next week. The 24-year-old holds a British passport as his parents are originally from England and used to play for LA Galaxy in the Major Soccer League.

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