GEORGE McCartney will line up against some of English football's biggest names on Saturday and, after helping guide Sunderland to the top of the Championship table, the full-back is confident of meeting up with most of them again next season.

McCartney is part of the Northern Ireland squad that will travel to Old Trafford at the weekend hoping to cause one of the shocks of the season.

Lawrie Sanchez's side take on England as part of their World Cup qualifying campaign and, while the hosts are firm favourites to top Group Six, they will be taking nothing for granted after the Irish earned a creditable 2-2 draw in Wales last September.

McCartney, who was a substitute in that game, is expected to start on Saturday as Northern Ireland look to shackle an England side that is likely to include the likes of Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard.

The 23-year-old is understandably excited at the thought of taking on some of the Premiership's leading lights. But, with Sunderland currently five points clear of third-placed Ipswich following last weekend's win over Coventry, he is hoping Saturday's international is merely a taste of what is to come.

"It would be nice to meet those players in the Premiership next season," said the left-back, who will win his 18th cap if he is charged with stopping David Beckham in five days time.

"The race isn't over yet but, if we could get promotion, it would be a great achievement for the club and the players. It would be great to play so many top teams next season.

"It doesn't get much better than playing England at Old Trafford and, for Northern Ireland, you don't get a bigger game.

"England are one of the best international teams in the world. They have some top-class players and it will be nice to go to Old Trafford and hopefully be a part of it."

McCartney has started every Sunderland game since mid-November and, against a resolute Coventry, his defensive display contributed to the club's 16th clean sheet of the campaign.

Such solidity is a key factor in the Black Cats' rise to the top of the table and, while crucial away games at Wigan and Ipswich continue to loom large, the Wearsiders have the psychological advantage of knowing they currently hold all the aces.

"It feels good to be top," admitted McCartney. "We have been in third place for most of the season but, in the last three or four weeks, we've managed to move into the top two.

"It's nice to have a five-point gap between ourselves and third place, but there's still a long way to go. No-one is promoted yet."

McCartney was a fresh-faced trainee when Sunderland last won promotion to the Premiership in 1999.

That season ended with the Black Cats crowned champions and, while finishing in the top two remains the over-riding aim this time around, the current side have also set their sights on a title triumph.

"At the start of the season, everyone sets out to win the league," said McCartney. "If we do that, it will be a great achievement.

"If we finish second and we are still promoted, so be it. It would be nice to get the medal, but the main thing is to get into the Premiership. If we're champions, great. If we finish second, that will do."

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