IF Kevin Kyle's progression from spare part to crucial cog in the Sunderland wheel needed confirming, Mick McCarthy last night paid the striker the ultimate compliment.

"Alan Shearer has always been a top player but even his game has developed - and look at how many years younger Kevin Kyle is," McCarthy said.

"Niall Quinn is a legend here, but when he was 20 Quinny was not the same player who played for Sunderland when he was 30-odd."

Having been on the periphery under the hapless Howard Wilkinson, Kyle has played in each of McCarthy's seven games in charge - starting the last five matches.

The Scotland striker should again line up at Villa Park today as Sunderland round off their away programme in this, the most miserable of seasons.

But as the end of the campaign draws nearer, and rival clubs plot to snap up Kevin Phillips, McCarthy believes Kyle's form has given him a scintilla of hope to cling to as the Nationwide League looms.

Kyle, 21, was derided by Sunderland fans earlier this season and his woeful finishing in the FA Cup replay against Bolton Wanderers was so bad, it had to be seen to be believed.

However, he has been reinvigorated by McCarthy, and the 6ft 3in targetman's potential was underlined yesterday by his manager's glowing praise.

McCarthy added: "Kevin Kyle has all the raw materials to be a very good player.

"Alan Shearer strikes me as even better now at holding up the ball and being cuter, maybe because there are other things he can't do.

"I played against Quinny when he was younger, and he was big and awkward. But he got better and better, and I think big lads do.

"I think forwards are late developers, and as a defender I was playing my best football when I was 26 or 27.

"Kevin works on his game as well. I went into the gym after training recently and he was still in there with a ball, which is nice to see.

"He's willing to work and willing to learn. I wouldn't want to play against him; I bet Jonathan Woodgate knew he was in a game last Saturday."

While Kyle is set to play at Villa Park, McCarthy has ruled out the option of fielding an under-strength side in the final two fixtures purely to give his youngsters some first-team experience.

Sean Thornton, Ben Clark, Jonjo Dickman and Richie Ryan have all made their Premiership debuts this season as a welter of injuries have stretched Sunderland's resources.

But as the Black Cats prepare for games with Villa and Arsenal, McCarthy has promised to be fair to the other clubs battling against relegation, plus Manchester United.

He said: "There are one or two teams in the league who wouldn't be too happy if I changed everything. I don't think it would benefit all those players if we changed it and we got slapped.

"Richie Ryan will benefit from the experience, as Sean Thornton is doing. And if it worked, it would be great. But do the fans want to see us get heavily beaten?

"There have been some good performances, but we can't rip it up and start again. There will not be wholesale changes for the next two matches.

"We tend to forget that Sean Thornton is one of the youngsters. Richie did well, and Chris Black was in the squad last week but got injured.

"They will be involved again at Villa, and there might be a rabbit pulled out of the hat, too."

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