AFTER feeling no ill-effects from full training, Julio Arca will make an ahead of schedule return to Sunderland action tomorrow with manager Mick McCarthy warning supporters not to pile the burden of expectation too heavily on his shoulders.

Having come through a week at the Academy of Light with no reaction to his broken toe, Arca is likely to make his comeback at Charlton.

There had been a suggestion made by manager McCarthy that the skilful left-sided player, who had set his sights on Boxing Day's home clash with Bolton, would not be rushed back in fear of a repeat of the set-back he suffered in October's Tyne-Wear derby.

Arca's second half substitute appearance against the Magpies cost him dear and has been unable to play since - meaning those 45 minutes remain his only first team action since the win over Middlesbrough on September 25.

But after proving his fitness this week, the South American is in line to start against Addicks, but McCarthy is urging the Sunderland fans searching for a little hope not to expect miracles from the skilfull Argentinian.

Sunderland have lost their last nine matches, eight in the Premiership, and are quickly drifting away from safety having taken just five points this season.

And McCarthy said: "Julio is one of our better players and we miss him whenever he's not playing. But we can't put all the responsibility on Julio righting all the wrongs of this season when he plays.

"He is Premiership quality, we have missed his spark and calmness in possession, but we can't expect wonders from him straight away.

"He has that ability to keep the ball and that's what we have missed quite a lot this season. He is a Premiership player with Premiership quality and we need people like that in our team.

"Julio has every chance of playing on Saturday. He will be fine and involved. He has trained all week. He will be fit to start the game and we'll see how he goes from there. It's a lack of training which he has but his injury is OK."

The likelihood of Arca being joined in the starting line-up at The Valley by goalkeeper Kelvin Davis increased last night when McCarthy hinted again his £1.25m summer buy is set for a recall.

Davis has sat on the bench for Sunderland's last five matches after paying the price for a series of mistakes since his arrival and conceding four in the calamitous defeat to Portsmouth on October 29.

But the former Ipswich man has been praised for his attitude by McCarthy, even helping his teenage deputy Ben Alnwick come to terms with life at the top.

And now Alnwick, who has shipped 12 goals since being handed his place five games ago, is ready to make way again for Davis who has been described as 'desperate to prove himself.'

"Kelvin's attitude has been fine. He has helped Ben to prepare for games. He wants to play, of course he does. He was the Championship's best keeper last season and he doesn't want to lose that status. His overall demeanour has not changed," said McCarthy.

"Kelvin has been excellent. He has been first-class. I would say first and foremost he will be trying to do it for himself. It's not trying to prove other people wrong. It's for his own personality and his own self-esteem he will want to do it for.

"They both need encouragement and confidence. Ben has the confidence of youth. He has the freshness and it's almost an arrogance of youth. When things fly past him I don't want to dent his confidence. I would also like to get Kelvin's confidence back and get him playing again."

Midfielder Tommy Miller remains a doubt after pulling up with a hamstring problem. Full-back Stephen Wright and striker Stephen Elliott are also unlikely to have recovered in time, despite hopes earlier in the week that they may.

* Charlton's England full-back Luke Young feels the club are entering a crucial phase of the season - and revealed the squad held clear-the-air talks to try to get to the bottom of their recent travails, which have seen them lose five games in a row.

Young said: ''We've discussed a few things and we need to be a bit more ruthless with each other."

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