SUNDERLAND striker Marcus Stewart has banished talk of lifting the Championship title - at least until promotion is secured

Sunderland now have a five-point cushion between themselves and third-placed Ipswich with just seven games to go, but face a tough run-in with most of their matches against teams fighting for promotion either directly, or via the play-offs.

The Black Cats have timed their run to the summit of the Championship almost to perfection, but a top two finish and promotion is the number one priority.

"It's just important getting promotion at the moment," said Stewart, signed for £3.25m from Ipswich in August 2003.

"If it means with one or two games to go it's between us and someone else fighting for the Championship then that's when we'll start thinking about that.

"At the moment getting promoted is the priority.

"Wigan have been at the top for most of the season, Ipswich have had a spell for three or four weeks and now it's our turn - we just have to stay there.

"It's the last month of the season, most of the games are against teams in the top ten, the top half of the table - apart from Leicester I think - so it's going to be a difficult month..

"We've still got work to do but we've got a rest now and hopefully those on international duty don't get injured.

"The players who are injured - the likes of Dean Whitehead and Michael Bridges - have a chance to get back for the QPR game.

"The break might work against us after our recent good run but it will give a lot of players a rest and also get one or two injuries out of the way."

The 32-year-old is among the senior members of Mick McCarthy's squad, and believes the additions made over the past eight months mean the side is better equipped to go all the way to the Premiership.

Last season the Wearsiders just couldn't break the domination of Norwich and West Brom at the top of the table eventually losing out to Crystal Palace in the play-offs.

"I don't think we really believed we had a chance (to overhaul Norwich and West Brom) last season," said the 15-goal frontman.

"We had to rely on their results really - a bit like teams have to rely on our results between now and the end of the season.

"There was quite a big gap and this year obviously we're in a lot better position - I'd rather be where we are now.

"There's a nice blend of youth and experience in the squad which helps.

"Some of the lads the gaffer has brought in - the likes of Liam Lawrence, Dean Whitehead and Stephen Elliott - have proved immense.

"They've got us goals at important times and they've come on leaps and bounds."

* Goalkeeper Mart Poom's season is almost certainly over after undergoing knee surgery in Germany.

The 33-year-old Estonian international had an exploratory operation after suffering a reaction to his comeback for the reserves last week. Poom has made just 12 senior appearances this season, one of them as a substitute and the last in October.

He has struggled with his right knee for much of the season and what he thought would be routine surgery late last year failed to address the problem fully.

He will remain in Germany for several days before returning to Wearside.

* Sunderland are sweating over the fitness of George McCartney, who is in danger of missing Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifier against England on Saturday at Old Trafford.

The 23-year-old defender again sat out training yesterday because of a groin strain. Northern Ireland have another session this afternoon and a decision on his fitness is likely to be made tomorrow.

Assistant manager Gerry Armstrong said: ''George is the one we are waiting on. We are hoping he will be fit as he is one of our better players.''

* Tickets for the game at Wigan on April 5 are on general sale at the Stadium of Light box office. Tickets for the game at QPR a week on Saturday have sold out.

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