McCarthy backs O’Neill to work his magic

MICK MCCARTHY has no reservations that Martin O’Neill will work his magic and revive the fortunes of Sunderland – but is delighted to have made his close friend’s job more difficult by pushing the north east club closer to relegation trouble.

O’Neill will officially take charge at the Stadium of Light today and his first task will be to pick his shattered players up in the wake of the 2-1 defeat inflicted by McCarthy’s side at Molineux, in which caretaker boss Eric Black believes Steve Bruce’s replacement will have seen everything which is good and bad about Sunderland.

Sunderland have claimed just 28 points from their last 32 Premier League games and O’Neill will return to management after a 16-month sabbatical to a club in 17th place and just one point above the drop zone. “I am glad I have made his bleeding job harder when he gets into work,” said McCarthy.