MICK McCARTHY received an unlikely birthday gift last night after Sunderland winger Julio Arca declared himself fit to face Tottenham on Sunday, providing he suffers no major setbacks.

At a time when the hierarchy at the Stadium of Light are trying to draw a line under the chairman-manager war of words saga, Arca has been nursing a calf injury.

McCarthy, whose 47th birthday celebrations yesterday would have been less enjoyable considering the club's current predicament, is eager to have the South American available as he already has an absentee list he could do without.

Dean Whitehead, Stephen Caldwell and Stephen Wright are all suspended for Sunday's visit of Tottenham and McCarthy is having to consider two fringe players.

Had Arca not recovered from the injury he sustained during Sunderland's 2-0 defeat at West Ham - their 19th loss from 24 league games - McCarthy's plans would have been hit even harder.

But the 24-year-old, likely to receive attention from Premiership clubs in the summer should Sunderland fall back into the Championship, will test himself on the training field this morning and hopes to show no ill-effects.

"I had a bit of a tight calf at West Ham and I decided, after talking to the gaffer, that it was best to come off then get a couple of days' rest," said Arca, who spent the best part of three months out earlier in the campaign with a broken toe.

"I will train on Wednesday and probably on Thursday. I have had no bad feelings today and the muscle is fine.

"If nothing happens in the next couple of days then I don't see any problems. I can see myself being OK to play."

McCarthy's team selection at Upton Park clearly illustrated he has one eye on next season and that is an approach he is likely to continue with until May.

Regardless of whether Arca does return, McCarthy looks destined to offer a couple of his younger faces the chance to shine.

Both Grant Leadbitter and Martin Woods, who played for the reserves on Monday night at West Brom, have forced themselves into the reckoning, particularly with Whitehead due to serve his one- match ban.

The former Oxford midfielder, whose absence could also open the door for Tommy Miller to make his return to the side in his preferred attacking midfield role that has evaded him for most of the season, picked up his fifth booking at West Ham.

But it is Leadbitter and Woods' emergence into the manager's thoughts that has come as the biggest surprise, given the fact that they have only had bit-parts so far.

Leadbitter has made one Premiership appearance and that was as a substitute at Charlton in December after returning from a loan spell at Rotherham.

Woods could fill the void left by Whitehead or, more likely, step into the breach on the left if Arca breaks down again.

Arca would love to help Sunderland surprise the rest of the Premiership with their first home win of the season on Sunday.

"It's a very difficult game for us but we have to go into that game with absolutely nothing to lose and a lot to gain," said Arca.

"They are doing well and are in the hunt for the Champions League places. We will have to make it difficult for them and they will be coming to us expecting to win."

l Arsene Wenger has revealed Sol Campbell is ''focused'' and ''determined'' to get back into action with Arsenal this weekend.

The centre-back was given extra time off following last week's nightmare performance, when he was at fault for the opening two goals in West Ham's 3-2 victory and substituted at half-time before leaving the stadium.

''He is determined to help the team as well as he can,'' said Wenger. ''We need Sol's experience, his desire and strength and he is all right.

''He is back and focused.'