SUNDERLAND striker Stephen Elliott has admitted that team-mate Kevin Kyle is integral to his side's chances of making it to the Premiership this season.

Kyle was a 54th-minute substitute as the Black Cats opened their Coca-Cola Championship account with a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Coventry on Saturday.

The Scotland international is still short of match fitness after injuring his hip in the opening week of pre-season training and missing all but 45 minutes of the Black Cats' friendly schedule.

His introduction still caused problems at Highfield Road though, with his sheer physical presence unsettling the previously assured Richard Shaw and Calum Davenport.

Kyle could find himself restored to the starting line-up as Sunderland entertain Crewe tomorrow night, and Elliott admits that the Wearsiders look a far more dangerous proposition with the burly frontman in the side.

"It will be very important to get him fit as quickly as possible because we need him," said Elliott, who made his senior Sunderland debut at the weekend following his summer move from Manchester City.

"We need that little and large combination up front.

"Kevin has been a big loss, we have really missed a big man up front.

"He has been struggling with his injury but I thought he did well when he came on.

"He gave us a new outlet up front and we will just have to wait and see what happens on Tuesday."

Sunderland's players bore a dejected look as they trudged off the field on Saturday night, after two late defensive lapses cost them a point.

George McCartney's handball was clumsy to the say the least, while nobody reacted to Mart Poom's late save other than Coventry striker Eddie Johnson.

The Black Cats started last season with a 2-0 away defeat at Nottingham Forest, and then followed that up with a lacklustre loss to Millwall at the Stadium of Light.

Crewe are tomorrow's visitors to Wearside and, while the season is still in its infancy, anything less than a win would leave Mick McCarthy's side on the back foot.

"It is so important that we pick ourselves up immediately and get three points off Crewe," said Elliott.

"That will get everybody buzzing again.

"We couldn't believe how Saturday's game ended. We deserved at least a point but a couple of silly things right at the end cost us.

"We can't let it get to us, it is so early in the season.

"We have to just take the good points from the game and get on with it tomorrow night."

Elliott was preferred to fellow youngster Chris Brown on Saturday and, while the Northern Ireland Under-21 international struggled to stamp his authority on the game, his movement and vision suggested far better things to come.

"I was delighted to be in the side on the first day of the new season," he said.

"I tried my best but the chances didn't go for me.

"I'm sure that they will come in due course.

"I thought I did quite well. I felt sharp enough so hopefully it will be a good season."

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