Coca-Cola Divisions: Sunderland - Preview

Nickname: The Black Cats
Ground: Stadium of Light
Capacity: 48,300
Last season: 3rd (lost in play-off semi-finals)
Manager: Mick McCarthy (March 2003)

In: Dean Whitehead (Oxford, tribunal), Carl Robinson (Portsmouth, undisclosed), Stephen Elliott (Man City, free), Liam Lawrence (Mansfield), Stephen Caldwell (Newcastle), Mark Lynch (Man Utd).

Out: Tommy Smith (Derby), Phil Babb, Paul Thirlwell, Michael Reddy (Grimsby), Jason McAteer (Tranmere), Simon Ramsden (Grimsby), Patrick Collins (Sheff Wed), Darren Byfield (Gillingham), Joachim Bjorklund (Wolves), Mark Rossiter.

Verdict: Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy has turned to youth after losing in the play-offs last year. The Black Cats have set their sights on automatic promotion and look good enough for at least another shot via the play-offs.

Key man: Julio Arca.


[Edited on 7/8/04 by TRD]