KEVIN Kyle has lived through the pain of being thrown into a side condemned as the worst in Premiership history and the Sunderland striker has promised to shield midfielder Grant Leadbitter from enduring the same misery he experienced three years ago.

Leadbitter's emergence could yet be one of the few success stories of an otherwise calamitous campaign, with the 19-year-old having been promoted to the first team as manager Mick McCarthy has finally lost faith in some of his more senior stars.

McCarthy, of course, has been here before and, the last time he presided over Sunderland's relegation from the top-flight, he used the final throes of the season to blood a number of untried youngsters.

Kyle was one such player and, with Leadbitter following in his footsteps, the Scotland international is ready to throw a protective arm around his team-mate.

"This situation is especially hard for the young lads like Grant," said Kyle, who remains confident Sunderland will scrape past the 19-point total they recorded three years ago.

"I was a young player when we were relegated the last time, I think I was 21, so I understand the difficulties and I hope I can use that experience to help.

"I was a young boy when Mick first put me in, it was a case of 'We're relegated, let's give some of these young players a chance, some Premiership experience and see what happens'. Grant is not expected to come in and work wonders and this can be good for him.

"It was an awful feeling going down with the worst points total ever last time and we have got that feeling again. It's horrible, but he can't let it get to him."

Leadbitter made his first Premiership start in last Wednesday's 2-0 defeat at Blackburn and, with Tommy Miller suspended for Saturday's trip to Birmingham, the youngster is expected to retain his place at the heart of the Black Cats' midfield.

"Grant did very well at Blackburn, he was excellent and he caused them a lot of problems," said fellow midfielder Dean Whitehead. "From what I have seen he will be a very good player.

"It can be difficult for young players to come into a side in a situation like this. It's good that they are getting their chance but it can be bad for them to be losing the whole time. Grant's confidence could suffer but the experience should toughen him up for the future."

* Sunderland are currently running the rule over Elgin City's former Blackburn defender Stuart Cummings. North-East rivals Middlesbrough are also interested in the youngster, who has been watched by scouts from Sheffield United, Leeds and West Bromwich Albion as well.

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