JUSTIN Hoyte admits he feels guilty about leaving Sunderland in the lurch at the end of the season.

Hoyte returns to Arsenal in May, when his season-long loan at Sunderland terminates.

The 21-year-old defender will be leaving his team-mates to contemplate life in the Championship, while he could be helping the champions of Europe defend their crown, should the Gunners negotiate a safe passage past Juventus and Inter Milan in the latter stages of the Champions League.

The Black Cats are destined for life in football's second tier next season and their fate could be decided at Everton today.

But Hoyte says he takes no pleasure in leaving Sunderland in the mire while he sets off to secure a place in Arsene Wenger's side as they embark on an exciting new future at the Emirates Stadium.

"It is a bit upsetting that I'll be leaving at the end of the season," said the defender who hopes to make his 22nd Premier League appearance for the club at Goodison Park this afternoon.

"I've been part of the team but I'll not be back (next season) as I'm going back to Arsenal. A lot of the lads are wanting to put things right next season but I'll not be able to do that."

Black Cats fans firmly believe the club's latest return to the top flight has been an unmitigated disaster. Hoyte, on the other hand, believes his season on Wearside has been the most rewarding of his career.

"Hopefully I can learn from this experience when I go back to Arsenal," said Hoyte. "It has helped playing all across the back four as it helps to be versatile. But at this stage of my career I just want to play games, it doesn't matter in what position.

"People and scouts from the club are still monitoring my progress (at Sunderland) and I still speak to one or two of the coaches every now and again. They say they are happy with my progress."

Hoyte is in line to face former defensive colleague Alan Stubbs today. The 34-year-old centre half made only 11 appearances in a fleeting six-month spell at the Stadium of Light and hardly won the fans over after admitting his move to Wearside "was a mistake".

But Hoyte believes the Scouser was invaluable to his development as a defender.

"He was good for me," admitted Hoyte. "He has been in the game a long time and he helped me and the others and I was sad to see him go back to Everton.

"He was a great all-round help with my positioning and covering. But all the experienced players have helped me, like Gary Breen, Stephen Caldwell and Danny Collins.

"I'm enjoying regular first-team football at Sunderland. The players and staff have been great. I just want to play as many games as possible towards the end of the season and then go back to Arsenal."

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