Gary Breen will have to wait a while before making his Sunderland debut after manager Mick McCarthy revealed that the player is desperately short of match fitness.
The last time that the Irish international defender played was during the Republic of Euro 2004 qualifier against Georgia on June 11, however following a protracted move from West Ham, Breen has missed out on nearly all of Sunderland's pre-season and will certainly not figure in his new side's first league clash.
McCarthy said, "It would be grossly unfair for me to play Gary on Saturday. He's not had a game for two months, while the other players here have had five weeks' preparation. He's a fit lad and he's been training over the summer, but it's not the same as playing. To ask him to come in under that pressure and play when he's not right would be unfair."
"I know because I did it once when I went to Celtic after a long injury, and I was hopeless. I don't want that to be the case with Gary. He needs to be physically right. We've had five weeks' training and seven pre-season games - Gary has had none of that. I've got to curb the urge to rush him into the side. It would be remiss of me," he added.
"Gary's a good defender. don't want to heap extra pressure on him by saying that everything will be rosy at the back because I've signed him. There's enough pressure for a new player at a demanding club like Sunderland. But he'll help us because he's a good defender, he's got pace, he's a good talker and he has lots of experience."
Meanwhile, Kevin Phillips proposed move to Southampton looks to be in question after the players' agent revealed that the two parties were having trouble reaching agreement over personal terms.
Filed by Rob Wright
