SUNDERLAND boss Mick McCarthy last night tipped new loan signing Anthony Le Tallec to be this season's Kieran Richardson.

Le Tallec completed a season-long loan move to the Stadium of Light earlier this week after struggling to break into the Liverpool first team following his return from last season's spell at French side St Etienne.

The midfielder, who has been officially ruled out of both of this season's games against Liverpool, has made just 13 starts for the Reds since moving from Le Havre three years ago.

Manchester United midfielder Richardson was in a similar position when he agreed to make a temporary move to West Brom at the start of January yet, just four months later, he was making his full England debut on their tour of the United States.

He had also helped keep the Baggies in the Premiership by that stage and McCarthy is confident Le Tallec can help to inspire an identical outcome during his time on Wearside.

"I hope he has a bright future and I hope it's with us," said the Black Cats boss. "You saw what can happen with someone like Kieran Richardson last season. He got in and played at West Brom and it did him the world of good.

"He (Le Tallec) has the experience of being at and playing for a massive club in Liverpool. I don't think coming here and playing for us will faze him.

"I'm hoping we will get the best out of him and he can prove to everyone that he is what Liverpool thought they had got when they first signed him."

Le Tallec, who signed for Le Havre at the age of just eight, first came to prominence as part of the France side that won 2001's Under-17 World Cup.

With Kevin Kyle likely to be out for most of the first half of the season, the 21-year-old will add some much-needed depth to a forward line that had previously contained just Jon Stead, Stephen Elliott and Chris Brown.

"I think he can link midfield and attack for us," revealed McCarthy. "He has played in the wide areas for Liverpool, behind the front men and up front, and dropped into the hole and played in midfield.

"He is versatile and he can do a number of jobs. I think over the course of the season, that might benefit us a lot."

The Frenchman became McCarthy's eighth signing of the summer when he put pen to paper on Tuesday night.

That figure could well rise to nine if he chooses to pursue his interest in Torpedo Moscow striker Andres Oper and the Sunderland boss is refusing to rule out another short-term addition before the start of the season.

"Using the loan market again is something I will be looking at," he confirmed. "It's an option. I have inquired about a number of players to a lot of people and it could be something I would use again.

"We took Darren Carter last season and he is now a £1.5m player. Stewart Downing was another who turned out to be a particularly good loan player. It helps them progress because they get first-team games."

McCarthy has not restricted his attention to the pursuit of new signings as he yesterday agreed a new one-year extension to the contract of midfielder Andy Welsh.

The left winger, who originally signed an 18-month deal when he made a £15,000 move from Stockport last November, has made four senior starts for the Black Cats.

"Welshy deserves his contract extension," said McCarthy. "His attitude has been magnificent and he's worked harder than anyone to improve physically and technically.

"I'm looking forward to seeing him compete in the Premier League. I think he's got something a little bit different to offer."

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