Is there light at the end of the tunnel for Sunderland?

MICK McCARTHY will draw on his experiences as Republic of Ireland manager to guide him through the potentially stormy waters he faces at Sunderland in the coming months.

McCarthy yesterday became Sunderland's third boss this season following the sackings of Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson, stepping back into club management for the first time since 1996.

With Sunderland seven points adrift of safety at the foot of the Premiership table, and with just nine matches remaining for the Black Cats to preserve their top-flight status, McCarthy is not promising miracles.