Mick to field changed team against Terriers

Mick McCarthy has said that there will be changes to the side that faces Huddersfield tonight in the second round of the Carling Cup and says that although he does want Sunderland to have a good cup run, progression in the League table is more important, not least for the Club's finances.

McCarthy told SAFC.com, "there are a number of players that are carrying little niggles and knocks, and are going into games when they're not 100 per cent. Players that don't play won't play because either they've played loads, or because they've got niggles. When we play the likes of Wigan or West Ham in the League, I don't want to put in one of those lads that has never played a first team game.

"I want a fit squad to pick from for the League games, but we'll still have a strong side out."

It's expected that first-team regulars such as Marcus Stewart, Julio Arca and Mart Poom could well be missing tonight when the Black Cats take on the Terriers but has no problems justifying changing a strong line-up, whilst Jason McAteer, Matt Piper and Stephen Wright are still crocked; so tonight could see the likes of Proctor, Ingham, Clark and even Whitley playing a part.

"I'd welcome a good cup run but I can give 20 million reasons why the League is more important than the League Cup - and they've all got a pound sign in front of them! I'm not trying to demean the competition - whatever team plays against Huddersfield will be busting a gut to win and to progress in the Cup."

And he said how the league cup is, in some ways, the ideal way to see which of his squad players are up to the rigours of competitive action rather than throwing them in at the deep end. "People say some players have got no experience - but how do you get experience if you don't play? At the moment, I've got 24 players, including three goalkeepers. But I don't think all 24 would walk straight into the first team.

"I need to know they can play in that stadium in front of that crowd against competitive opposition."

Breen back at the weekend?

Irish media are today reporting that centre-back Gary Breen could be back to full fitness a lot sooner than expected - possibly in time for this weekend's televised match against managerless Reading.

Breen was initially expected to miss up to six matches after suffering a groin strain in the away defeat to Stoke a week ago, but he is now said to be making a quicker than expected recovery.

If the Irishman does get back to full fitness sooner than anticipated, he may well also feature in his country's Euro 2004 qualifier against Switzerland on 11th October.