EXPERIENCED Gary Breen has backed young Sunderland defender George McCartney to become a star in Nationwide League Division One this season.

McCartney has been asked to fill the void left by broken nose victim Ben Clark in recent games at the heart of the Black Cats defence.

And the 22-year-old, who started the season at left-back, has formed a promising partnership alongside Republic of Ireland man Breen at the centre of a back four, which has kept three consecutive clean sheets.

Breen, formerly of West Ham and Coventry, is convinced McCartney will get better and better as their understanding of one another's game grows.

"I always envisaged him as a left-back but he has come in after Ben Clark got a facial injury and he has been brilliant," said Breen, who is expected to partner McCartney against Crystal Palace at the weekend.

"Centre-half partnerships take a long time to develop but I have been very impressed with him.

"He jumps well and he is always up for the physical side of the game. He has good technical ability.

"If he keeps playing like he is then he will keep his place."

McCartney's development in his new role took another positive step on Saturday when he helped Northern Ireland keep a clean sheet away to Ukraine.

The Sunderland man, earning his 13th cap, partnered Newcastle's Aaron Hughes in central defence and managed to keep the hosts at bay, including former Tottenham striker Sergei Rebrov.

It was only the second point in Group Six of the European Championship qualifiers gained by Sammy McIlroy's men.

Breen was also in action for Ireland, but they were unable to stop Russia from scoring at Lansdowne Road.

The Irish drew 1-1 in Group Ten and there were also starts for Breen's Sunderland teammate Colin Healy and ex-Black Cat Kevin Kilbane.

l Leeds captain Dominic Matteo has revealed he had juices from a turkey's head injected into his knee in a bid to beat injury.

The defender had to quit playing for Scotland because his damaged knee could only take so much strain.

The 29-year-old, who has been capped just six times, received a barrage of criticism from pundits north of the border, who claimed the former England Under-21 international had never been committed to the Scots' cause.

But he admitted: ''I would love to be playing for Scotland without any problems but it just can't be.

"I visited a specialist in Munich and he painted a clear picture. He tried everything. I had goose liver, calf's liver and juices from a turkey's head injected into me.

''The bottom line was that something had to go and I decided to give up playing for my country.

''Leeds pay my wages and they have to come first.''

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