SUNDERLAND last night accepted a bid of up to £1.75m from Wolves for Jody Craddock.

The defender has been pulled out of the party for tonight's friendly at Hearts and will travel to Molineux this morning to discuss personal terms with the Premiership new boys.

Northern Echo SPORT exclusively disclosed on Monday that Wolves manager Dave Jones was ready to swoop for centre-back Craddock.

And a Sunderland spokeswoman confirmed: "We have agreed a maximum fee of £1.75m with Wolves for Jody Craddock and have given permission for them to speak to him to discuss personal terms.''

Craddock, who joined Sunderland six years ago from Cambridge for £300,000, was a regular last season after missing the opening weeks of the campaign following the tragic death of infant son Jake.

But Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy, under pressure to cut his wage bill and ease club debts of approximately £30m, has been forced to cash in on 28-year-old Craddock.

Sunderland, who sold midfielder Gavin McCann to Aston Villa last week for £2.25m, hope to alleviate their financial worries further by offloading £3m-rated goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen to the same club this week.

But the Danish international yesterday admitted he is still waiting to talk to Villa.

"I'm not having personal negotiations with Aston Villa,'' he said. "My agent, Paul Stretford, is talking to both clubs, but a move has not come any closer this week.''

In contrast, winger John Oster is rebuilding his Sunderland career after emerging from a two-season nightmare.

Oster, who started only two first-team games for Sunderland in that time, has had to live with the trauma of accidentally ending the career of teammate Mark Maley.

Defender Maley, a former England Schoolboys skipper, was forced to retire after being shot in the eye with an air pistol during horseplay with Oster at the Welsh international's home in Durham City in April last year.

Oster, 24, was last season loaned to Grimsby, the club who launched his career, and had the chance to make the return permanent.

But now, having so far been the star of Sunderland's pre-season programme - he has scored three goals - the £1m signing from Everton feels vindicated in rejecting the Mariners' overtures.

Oster, likely to be involved against Hearts, said: "I could have joined Grimsby last season if I had wanted to, but I chose not to.

"I think that has proved to be a good decision, looking at the way things stand now.

"I'm confident that I'm at the right club to get back to the Premiership, which is where I want to play.

"It has been a good pre-season so far, barring the game we lost at Huddersfield. The matches we have had have been useful for our fitness and confidence.

"It has been good for me. I have scored a few goals, which is always nice, and I am happy with the way things are going.

"It's always an uncertain time when a new manager comes in. There are players he wants and players he doesn't want. Luckily for me, Mick has come in and given me a fresh chance. Hopefully, I can take it.

"I have played in the First Division before so I understand what the game is like.

"I'm confident I can score goals next season. I didn't get many games when I came here and that dented my confidence.

"I want to show what I can do - I want to let my football do the talking.

"There has never been a problem with the team spirit here. Mick hasn't had to do anything as far as that's concerned.

"We have quite a young team, but there is a lot of potential. We need to have a good season and try to win promotion straight back to the Premiership.''

McCarthy has recalled in-form midfielder Paul Thirlwell and winger Thomas Butler for the trip to Tynecastle.

Sunderland (from): Poom; Wright, McCartney, Bjorklund, McAteer, Thirlwell, Whitley, Kilbane, Butler, Thornton, Stewart, Kyle, Proctor, Piper, Oster, Williams, Clark.

l Manchester United midfielder Michael Stewart, tracked by Sunderland and Burnley, will face the Black Cats on the opening day of the Nationwide League season after joining Nottingham Forest on loan.