McCarthy hints at return for Sunderland exiles

Sunderland cast-offs Lilian Laslandes and Bernt Haas could yet have a future on Wearside.

Peter Reid’s forgotten men are currently on long-term loans at Bastia and Basle respectively after failing to make their mark in the Premiership.

The 31-year-old French striker and the Swiss international defender have found new leases of life away from the Stadium of Light, resurrecting careers which were going nowhere after Reid placed them and six team-mates on the transfer list last summer.

However, 10 months and two managers on, Mick McCarthy is assessing the resources he might have at his disposal for what seems certain to be at least one season in Division One, and is ruling nobody in or out.

“I can’t comment either way on whether they have a future here,” he said. “I haven’t discussed the situation with their agents but they are two very talented internationals and I would be interested to hear what they have to say.

“But I suppose it would be very difficult for them to return to a club which has sent them out on loan for a season.”

Laslandes arrived on Wearside from Bordeaux in July 2001 as Reid attempted to find a long-term replacement for Niall Quinn, but he never found his feet and was loaned out to German club Koln before heading back to France in the summer.

Haas, 25, came from Grasshoppers Zurich during the same close-season, and initially slotted in as first-choice right-back, but after a loss of form, found himself out of the picture.

Ironically, his return to Switzerland with Basle won him a chance to play Champions League football this season.

McCarthy is currently drawing up his contingency plans for the future after Saturday’s 2-1 defeat by Chelsea, the club’s ninth league reverse in succession, pushed them to the brink of relegation.

He freely admits that some of his big-name players may leave if the worst comes to the worst, but has insisted that he will soldier on regardless.

Meanwhile, striker Michael Proctor provided his manager with a timely reminder last night when he fired the reserves to a 2-0 home victory over Everton.

The 22-year-old struck twice within three minutes to clinch the points and stake his case for a place on the coach for the Premiership trip to Birmingham at the weekend.