STEVE Caldwell has claimed the imminent return of Kevin Kyle could represent a significant turning point in Sunderland's season.

Kyle, who has not featured for the first team since August 2004, is nearing the end of an injury hell that has seen him undergo two separate operations and receive a succession of painkilling injections to treat a hip problem that was threatening to curtail his career.

He survived a 45-minute run-out for the reserves last week and is expected to step up his rehabilitation even further when Sunderland's second string take on Blackburn next Tuesday and Manchester United 48 hours later. Provided that goes without a hitch, he could even be named in the first-team squad for the following weekend's FA Cup fourth-round trip to Brentford.

The Scotland international has been sorely missed this season, with his replacements, Andy Gray and Jon Stead, mustering just one goal between them in more than five months of football.

From a personal perspective, Caldwell is delighted to see his fellow countryman finally putting his injury problems behind him.

And, from a Sunderland point of view, the defender feels the return of one of the club's foremost forwards will act as a much-needed morale boost ahead of the final four months of the campaign.

"It's fantastic to see him back," said Caldwell, who was recently identified by Mick McCarthy as Sunderland's most consistent performer in the last two months. "His problem started off as a very small injury but it escalated to the point where it became very serious indeed.

"It's been 18 months or so. He was a friend of mine when I came here and he's obviously still a friend of mine now. It's been hard to see what he's gone through because there were times when he was worried about ever playing the game again.

"Now he's on the road to recovery, though, and I'm pleased for him. I'm also pleased for the medical staff because they've put a lot of time and attention into trying to get him right.

"They've worked tirelessly for 18 months. They've taken him to this specialist and that specialist and they're reaping the rewards now because he's well on the way with his recovery.

"I hope he can get back into the first-team squad soon because a fully-fit Kevin Kyle would be a massive asset to Sunderland."

Kyle is not the only long-term absentee eyeing a comeback, as full-back George McCartney is also back in training following his latest setback.

McCartney, who has been out of action all season because of a hamstring tendon problem, was forced to scale back his recovery a fortnight ago when he suffered pain behind his knee.

That has subsided and the Northern Ireland international is back in full training with the rest of the first-team squad.

McCarthy has always maintained that the duo's return would be like signing two new players and, after running the rule over a host of trialists in the last fortnight, the Black Cats boss is also hoping to make at least one new addition to his ranks in the next seven days.

The Yorkshireman met with Sunderland board members in London on Tuesday to outline his leading transfer targets. It is understood that Ricardo Cabanas figured prominently in those discussions, with McCarthy highlighting the Swiss midfielder as the creative force his side has been lacking in recent weeks.

His fee remains a concern, with his current employers, Grasshoppers, maintaining they will not accept less than their quoted valuation of £500,000. Sunderland have still not offered that figure and, while it is understood they would agree to a total package worth that sum, they would be reluctant to pay the full amount up front.

McCarthy's hand would be strengthened if he was able to trim the current wage bill and, to that end, he is increasingly resigned to losing the services of Alan Stubbs.

The former Everton, Celtic and Bolton defender has failed to make much of an impression at the Stadium of Light and, tellingly, was not even named in the 16-man squad that faced Chelsea last weekend despite being fully fit.

Derby boss Phil Brown is keen to take Stubbs to Pride Park and, while the centre-half is reluctant to uproot again, he is expected to leave Wearside before the transfer window swings shut.

"I am interested in Alan," confirmed Brown. "I'm interested in players with Premier League pedigree and standards, who are not in their first team. Alan falls into that category."