Mick will put pressure on O'Neill

Mick McCarthy says he wants an answer from Celtic boss Martin O'Neill about his intentions for Mickey Gray.

Gray has spent three months at Celtic Park on loan but is now back training with his Sunderland teammates - but he cannot represent the club competitively, as Celtic have retained his registration, leaving the player in limbo.

Bolton have confirmed that they are interested in Gray and are expected to make an offer for him next week or arrange for him to go to the Reebok Stadium on loan, but McCarthy says there's been other interest - and he wants things tied up.

"I'm going to phone Martin in the next few days because we need to get the situation cleared up about whether they are going to sign him or not.

"He has also attracted interest from a few Premiership clubs so we need to get the situation with Celtic clarified. If they do not want him he will come back here. I don't have an axe to grind with him. He is in a difficult situation.

"I'd like to see him sort himself out before the end of January."

Gray going white?

It's been reported today that Bolton boss and former Sunderland player Sam Allardyce has his sights set on Mickey Gray.

Although Gray, 29, has been linked with a move that would see him spend the remainder of this season on loan again at Celtic, it's believed that Allardyce sees Mickey as the ideal replacement for the injured Ricardo Gardner. Reports in today's press suggest that Bolton initially want Gray on loan until the end of this season.

Mick McCarthy has confirmed that Gray has no future with his hometown club, and as one of the highest-paid players at Sunderland it's likely that both manager and board would be keen to see Mickey off their balance books.

Gray is currently unable to represent Sunderland competitively as Celtic have retained his registration, but he trains with the rest of the Black Cats squad.

Allardyce said, "It could still be a possibility. He has come back from Celtic and Sunderland are probably looking to move him out."