McCarthy admits title 'white lie'

Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy has admitted he lied about wanting to win the Coca-Cola Championship title.

The 46-year-old Yorkshireman has spent much of the season insisting he would be happy as long as his side clinched automatic promotion back to the Barclays Premiership after a two-year absence.

However, having ensured that with last weekend’s 2-1 win over Leicester, the former Republic of Ireland boss takes his side to West Ham tonight knowing a win will hand them the championship trophy he has craved all along.

“I lied because I did want to win the championship,” he said. “It is a little white lie. I could not sit and say: ’I want to win the championship’.

“People would sit and say: ’What an arrogant sod he is’, and I am not.

“I wanted to go up and if we win the championship, we will have been the best team, which is brilliant. But we want to win the championship, of course we do.”

Even if Sunderland lose at Upton Park, they will be crowned champions on Saturday if Wigan fail to beat play-off hopefuls Preston at Deepdale, and McCarthy insists he is unconcerned if that is where the issue is decided.

”I am not bothered,” he said. “If we win the championship, which we should do the position that we are in, whether it is us losing and Wigan losing, I am not bothered.”

Full-back George McCartney is available for the trip to West Ham after missing the win over Leicester with a hamstring injury.

Striker Michael Bridges is doubtful with a niggling groin injury, while Liam Lawrence has missed training this week with a slight knee problem.

Eighteen-year-old goalkeeper Ben Alnwick will continue as Thomas Myhre, who has missed the last two games with a side strain, is not expected to be fit.

West Ham manager Alan Pardew told his squad they owe it to Teddy Sheringham to reach the play-off final.

The 39-year-old striker is ruled out of the match against Sunderland with a hamstring injury.

And with the problem meaning Sheringham is unlikely to be fit again before a possible play-off decider in Cardiff at the end of the month, Pardew urged his players to give the former England man the chance to seal the Hammers’ Premiership spot.

“We owe Teddy the right to play in the play-off final, so hopefully that will motivate us,” said Pardew.

“It is a massive blow for us to lose him, because of his presence and because of what he has done for us this season.”

Sheringham has scored 20 goals for the Hammers and created many more, with Pardew’s side now occupying the final play-off position, above his former club Reading on the basis of goals scored.

Sheringham is likely to be replaced in attack by Bobby Zamora, who has come off the substitutes’ bench to good effect in recent weeks.

Midfielder Mark Noble has recovered from an ankle injury and could start, while forward Sergei Rebrov will also be in the squad after finally shaking off a calf problem.