GARY BREEN has warned his Sunderland team-mates that their current plight at the foot of the Premier League can make or break the club's youngsters.
The Black Cats go into the holiday programme firmly rooted to the bottom spot, having failed to register a point since October 1.
Despite the Black Cats' perilous position, the skipper has reiterated the belief that the Wearsiders can escape relegation, and are worthy of their position in the top flight.
Breen said: "We're a young team and we knew there would be problems this season but there's a real belief, from me especially because I train with the guys, that they're good enough to play in the Premiership.
"It's probably easier for me because I'm a bit more experienced.
"The Premiership doesn't give you that learning curve, you get punished straightaway. It's all about surviving this season and I'm sure if we can do that they'll go on to show they are good enough to play at this level.
"More than anything it'll be a test of the young players' mental strength and it should serve them well for their future careers because it's very demanding to play at Sunderland.
"At times the crowd haven't been happy with us, and rightly so.
"But it's important the players always want the ball and still do what they're supposed to be doing.
"It's about that mental strength and wanting the ball still in tight situations when the crowd are not particularly with you."
Breen, Stephen Caldwell and Julio Arca boast some Premier League pedigree.
But midfielders Dean Whitehead and Liam Lawrence are among those for whom top flight football is a totally new experience.
Sunderland have failed to set the Premiership alight but Whitehead has been a revelation, and Liverpool are reported to be showing an interest in the former Oxford player.
According to the skipper, the Black Cats backroom staff selected players of the calibre of Whitehead, Lawrence, and Stephen Elliott to bring to the Stadium of Light as much for their character as their playing ability.
Breen believes they will come through what is already a difficult season with their reputations intact.
"I'm sure they will do because they're a good bunch of lads," said the 32-year-old.
"I'm sure they've not only got the ability but also the character because the manager will have probably done a lot of homework on that.
"They really over-achieved last season because some of them came from third division teams.
"It was a fabulous achievement so it's important we don't let down what we did last year by going out without a fight this year and we're determined that won't happen."
The Republic of Ireland international is far from resigned to the Black Cats' fate, and sees the Christmas and New Year programme as vital to turning around their season.
After Bolton visit on Boxing Day, Sunderland have trips to Blackburn and Fulham with a home game against Everton sandwiched inbetween those encounters.
"We think we can do it," said Breen. "We're three wins away from being back in it again.
"I know the record so far doesn't suggest that but performances, rather than results, have done.
"It's just important we don't let what's happened so far have a negative effect. It's important we still believe we can do it and I'm sure we do.
"We've got a real determination to do well first and foremost for ourselves because we've worked really hard to get to the Premiership."
* Liam Lawrence has set his team-mates a target of winning half of the home fixtures they have left to give them a chance of avoiding the drop.
Sunderland haven't won a top-flight game on Wearside since September 2002, a run of 19 games, and have ten league fixtures at the Stadium of Light remaining until the end of the season.
"Teams have enjoyed coming here, it has been too easy for them," said Lawrence. "That has got to change and it's up to us to make it change. We just need that first win to spark things, I'm sure of that.
"I think we need to be looking at two or three wins over Christmas. If we can do that, it will hand us a lifeline.
"We have ten home games to go and I think we need to win at least half of them."
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