AFTER snapping up winger Andy Welsh for a nominal fee earlier this week Mick McCarthy has set his sights on more bargain-basement buys.

The Sunderland manager had Lincoln City midfielder Peter Gain watched in The Imps' impressive 3-0 victory against Darlington on Saturday, and is believed to be lining up a swoop.

The 28-year-old left-sided player joined City for a £15,000 fee five years ago after a successful loan spell from Tottenham. He has since made 166 appearances and scored 14 times for the club.

Lincoln boss Keith Alexander, however, dismissed the speculation linking his classy midfielder with a move to Wearside and says there has been no contact between the two clubs.

He said: "I must say that I am disappointed with the way this rumour was reported and I don't know anything about anybody looking at our players.

"But if you look at how we've been playing over the last couple of years or so you would be surprised and disappointed if our players weren't being watched.

"All this speculation doesn't matter to us, though, as we're just going to go out there and play our game as normal.

"We've got some important games coming up, starting with Yeovil on Saturday, and we need to remain focused on these."

Gain was instrumental in City's win at the Williamson Motors Stadium at the weekend and is just the type of player McCarthy has signed of late

The Black Cats' boss has proved himself adept at bringing out the best in his purchases this season; converting several lower league and reserves' players into first-team regulars.

Neill Collins is a prime example of that and was rewarded yesterday with a one-year extension to his original two-year deal - signed earlier this season - after a series of impressive displays at the heart of the Sunderland defence in the absence of skipper Gary Breen. The deal will keep the former Dumbarton stopper at the Stadium of Light until June 2007.

McCarthy had originally thought his left-sided defender would spend a season in the reserves before staking a claim next term.

But because of injury and suspension, the former Republic of Ireland boss has had to thrust the Scot into the first-team picture sooner than he expected.

McCarthy said: "Neill has done really well since arriving here at the start of the season and we wanted to extend his deal to reward him.

"He has a bright future at Sunderland and I'm pleased we have been able to secure his services for the next three years."

* Sunderland's FA Youth Cup third-round tie against Leicester will take place at Durham City FC on Thursday, December 16 (7pm).

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