McCarthy tells Black Cats to take leaf out of Ireland’s book

SUNDERLAND boss Mick McCarthy will urge his team to match the hardiness demonstrated by the Republic of Ireland in their World Cup campaigns as they aim for Premiership survival.

The Black Cats begin the new season among the favourites to make a swift return to the Football League.

While acknowledging that they will have a major fight on their hands, McCarthy remains undaunted.

“I played with a Republic of Ireland side that people looked down their nose at, and they very often used to get it rammed right back up their nose,” he said. “And I managed a Republic of Ireland side who were very similar, and they got a great deal of respect out of it.

“I certainly would not go into playing anybody thinking negatively and start worrying about it. I’m not being naive, that is being positive.

“That has got to be the way forward. Why should we set off with that attitude? If you do, you are giving yourself a problem from the start.

“I do not really subscribe to that theory that you come up and then start making noises and being negative right from the start.

“To be honest, I have said to the players if I hear anybody saying ‘we will be happy if we do this’, then I will not be best pleased.”

Sunderland won the Coca-Cola Championship last season with a series of committed displays founded on a collective spirit.

Having seen Peter Reid guide his team to seventh when the Wearsiders last returned to the Premiership, McCarthy is confident that survival, at the very least, can be achieved.

But he will also take a leaf from Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho’s book as he plots the way forward.

“You talk about the bloke who won the championship last year and all he ever talked about was ‘the group’,” said McCarthy.

“If you are talking about a bloke who has been as successful as he has over the last few years recognising that it is about the team and the team spirit, then I think maybe we are on the right lines.”

McCarthy has strengthened his squad for the challenge, adding six new signings - Jon Stead, Tommy Miller, Kelvin Davis, Nyron Nosworthy, Daryl Murphy and Martin Woods.

He remains on the look-out for further reinforcements but is confident the £1.8million capture of Stead represents excellent business.