BRIAN Deane has been told to forget about being a super sub and focus on becoming a vital ingredient in Sunderland's Championship title mix.

Deane arrived from Leeds United on deadline day and has travelled with the rest of the squad in preparation for this afternoon's match at Queens Park Rangers.

He is unlikely to start the game but there is every chance that he will make his Sunderland debut from the bench at Loftus Road - a role that many believe he will be familiar with after the final seven games of the season.

Deane has agreed to move to Wearside until the end of the campaign and, although keen on starting every game, he realises cameo roles are likely to become the norm for him.

But manager Mick McCarthy, who swooped to find a short-term replacement for the crocked Kevin Kyle, has suggested Deane could have a bigger part to play than he thinks. McCarthy insists the 37-year-old is likely to see more action at Sunderland than he would at Leeds, had he remained at Elland Road to see out the final few months of his contract.

"Brian has a role in the squad and the team if necessary. Brian has a bit more experience which we have missed and we will benefit," said McCarthy.

"He was terrific for Leeds this season (he scored one on Boxing Day) and for West Ham (last season) when he came to play us at home.

"I'm not looking for him to be a super sub and he might end up starting more games than he thinks. It's a great addition for us."

McCarthy revealed he had tried to sign the former Middlesbrough forward in the summer but had chosen to make a return to his hometown club, Leeds, instead.

But he has since found that Whites boss Kevin Blackwell has opted to bring in Rob Hulse from West Brom and Burnley's Ian Moore, making Deane's task to start all the more harder.

Now at his eighth club, Deane faces a battle with Stephen Elliott, Marcus Stewart, Chris Brown and Michael Bridges to start for Sunderland.

But while question marks will now be raised over Bridges' situation, should he be omitted from the bench today, the new man has been given full backing from the boss.

"I spoke to him at the start of the season, he thought about what his role would be. He ended up going to Leeds and thought he had better opportunities there in terms of playing games. But I have recognised him as a player who would be an asset to us and we have swooped," said McCarthy.

League leaders Sunderland go to QPR - Leeds' opponents in November when Deane scored four goals - today having had the benefit of a two-week break since their win over Coventry.

That was the Wearside outfit's sixth successive win and McCarthy is hoping to extend that run to ensure they can go to second-placed Wigan on Tuesday night full of confidence.

"I went away for a few days but I didn't switch off," he said. "Our record is as good as anyone's away and we are hoping that will continue.

"The media circus is all talking about the Wigan game. That's premature, it's putting the cart before the horse because we need a good result at QPR to take us into Wigan."

Gary Breen looks set to start despite missing the Republic of Ireland's win over China in midweek with a knee injury, but George McCartney looks like missing the next two matches with a groin problem.

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