MICK McCarthy last night admitted Sunderland have missed the calming influence of injured midfielder Christian Bassila, claiming the tough-tackling Frenchman was a key component of his strongest side.

Bassila has made four Premiership starts since signing from Strasbourg in late August and, while his debut ended in defeat at Chelsea, his three other outings saw the Black Cats record a win and two draws.

The last of those came against West Ham, with the 28-year-old suffering a hamstring injury that has sidelined him for more than a month.

In his absence, Sunderland's defence has collapsed. Mick McCarthy's men have conceded 13 goals in their last four matches, with last weekend's calamitous 4-1 defeat to Portsmouth marking a new nadir.

After stepping up his training yesterday, Bassila is in contention for a first-team return in Saturday's daunting trip to Arsenal.

And, with Sunderland back on the bottom of the Premiership, McCarthy is desperately hoping the Frenchman is available to help kickstart a recovery at Highbury.

"The one victory we have had, with a great performance away from home at Middlesbrough, came with the strongest team I could pick," said the Black Cats boss. "It was the team I have been striving to get out there and it had Christian Bassila in it.

"Since then, apart from half-an-hour against West Ham, we have been without him and we have missed him.

"The players who have come in as replacements have done well, but that is exactly what they are - replacements."

In Bassila's absence, McCarthy has asked Tommy Miller and Dean Whitehead to share defensive responsibilities in midfield.

The pair have done their best but, just as Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard flatter to deceive when they play alongside each other for England, so Sunderland's central midfielders have struggled to adapt to their new roles.

Miller, in particular, is better suited to a more attacking outlook, and the former Hartlepool midfielder admitted Sunderland have suffered from the lack of a naturally defensive midfielder.

"Every team needs a Bassila," he said. "I've always profited from playing alongside a holding midfielder. At Hartlepool it was Mark Tinkler and at Ipswich it was either Jim Magilton or Kevin Horlock.

"A player who is prepared to do that job is priceless and we're hoping Christian will be back soon."

While Bassila's absence has undoubtedly been a contributory factor to Sunderland's recent poor run, the club's fans seem to have made goalkeeper Kelvin Davis the scapegoat for three consecutive Premiership defeats.

McCarthy must decide whether or not to stand by Davis this weekend, with Sunderland officials yesterday confirming they were unable to recall Mart Poom from his loan spell at Arsenal.

As if things were not bad enough for the Black Cats boss, he is also without first-choice left-back Justin Hoyte, with Premier League rules preventing him appearing against his permanent employers.

There was better news on the opposite flank with Stephen Wright passed fit to resume full training later this week.

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