Breen may play key role in McCarthy’s new Sunderland

SUNDERLAND boss Mick McCarthy yesterday started to rebuild the spine of his team after he was finally given the go-ahead to start reconstructive surgery.

Having to stand by as midfielder Gavin McCann and central defender Jody Craddock were sold and a fee was agreed for keeper Thomas Sorensen, and with striker Kevin Phillips currently being courted by four potential buyers, McCarthy may be seeing the heart ripped out of the side he inherited from Howard Wilkinson.

But he has recruited midfielder Jeff Whitley to the cause and is lining up Republic of Ireland defender Gary Breen as his second acquisition.

Breen is available after a brief return to the Barclaycard Premiership with West Ham last season.

Sunderland hopes to complete the move for Breen within days. The player was a key member of McCarthy’s Irish squad at last year’s World Cup finals, and has been on the manager’s wish-list for some time.

“Gary is a vastly experienced defender who I’m sure will do well for us,” McCarthy said.