RICHARD SADLIER is 'very nearly' ready to launch his bid to persuade Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy to gamble on his services - two-and-a-half years after last playing a competitive game.

The 26-year-old striker has been training with the rest of the Black Cats squad in recent weeks after being invited along by his former Republic of Ireland boss.

And now Sadlier, forced to quit the game in September 2003 after being unable to recover from a long-standing hip problem, is showing signs of nearing full fitness and is not far away from starting a trial with Sunderland.

As much as he would love to return to the professional game, the forward knows there are no guarantees his body will be up to such a thing.

However, such is his desperation to give things a go again, Sadlier is eager to test out the latest surgery on his hip that was recommended to him by Sunderland's Kevin Kyle, who himself is due to return to first team action at Brentford tomorrow after 18 months out.

And McCarthy, whose family home in Bromley is just round the corner from Sadlier's base, is willing to give the former Millwall frontman a chance to prove his worth.

"Sadlier is still here with a view to getting him fit. He's progressing very quickly with his training and we'll get him out there to take a view on signing him, we'll see when he's fit," said McCarthy, not pinning his hopes on any new arrivals joining his squad before the closure of the transfer window on Tuesday night.

"He wants to get back to the stage where he can make the decision of whether he can play again. He's similar to Kyle was and he's involved now, so we'll see."

When he was forced to retire, after an attempted comeback in August 2003 resulted in him playing just two matches before breaking down, Sadlier received a substantial pay-off through insurance.

For that reason a return to professional football could prove complicated and it is for that reason his fitness has to be stringently tested before a decision is made.

But McCarthy, having handed the player his only international cap during his days in charge of the Irish, knows all about what the player's ability used to be like.

It is also well documented that Sadlier, who scored 34 league goals in 103 appearances during his days with Millwall, was targeted by Sunderland as a long-term replacement for Niall Quinn before hanging up his boots.

And McCarthy said: "He was a very good player who is trying to come back and if he gets back playing and gets fit then you weigh things up. It's open ended at the moment and we're having a look, he could be a very, very good player."

The fact Kyle, who has had two operations on an almost identical problem, is a little over 24 hours from making his long-awaited comeback offers Sadlier a great deal of encouragement.

The Scotsman, who has not played since August 2004, is in line to play some part of tomorrow's FA Cup fourth round tie at Griffin Park - much to the relief of everyone at the club.

And McCarthy, in desperate need of a powerful centre-forward all season, is delighted to have the former Irish Sea ferries baggage handler back on board.

"When Kyle wasn't training and not playing he was quiet and kept himself to himself. As he started training he's become more and more desperate to play, a bit more vocal and visible around the place and he's getting back to his peak where he's fit to play," said McCarthy.

"If he'd been fit he'd be vying for a slot every single week and could have been a regular. We're hoping he gets back to that. He's wanted to do more and more and more and it's been difficult to hold him back."

With Kyle on the verge of making his comeback and both George McCartney and Stephen Wright gaining more valuable minutes for the reserves last night, McCarthy is resigned to having to settle for an easing injury list instead of new signings.

Striker Stephen Elliott, although still weeks away, is another who has received positive news this week on his back injury. And McCarthy said: "There's nothing imminent on the transfer front that's for sure, but getting those four lads back would mean a hell of a lot to us."

Read more about Sunderland here.