MART POOM is poised to seize his chance at Sunderland as Arsenal and Manchester United prepare to go head-to-head for goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen.

Estonia's Poom, signed from Derby County by former Black Cats boss Howard Wilkinson for £2.5m during January's transfer window, wants the No 1 jersey if Sunderland are forced to cash in on Sorensen, who is also being linked with Aston Villa.

Relegation is a near-certainty and the Wearsiders face the painful prospect of selling prize assets Sorensen and striker Kevin Phillips in a bid to stave off financial meltdown.

Poom, who originally arrived on a two-month loan in November, is seen as the likely successor to Sorensen should the Danish international move on.

Austrian Jurgen Macho and Norwegian Thomas Myhre are rivals to Poom, who has signalled his determination to secure a future at Sunderland by buying a house in the region.

"My aim is to establish myself as the first-choice goalkeeper here,'' admitted Poom.

"That is why I came here. My goal is to play in the first team. I know Thomas has been No 1 for a while, but that is where I want to be. We work hard together, we support each other and I always wish Thomas all the best when he goes out to play. But I have my personal goals."

Poom, relegated with Derby last season, confessed: "It's been a hard 18 months. I was devastated when I went down with Derby.

"I enjoyed my time there and I thought we did well in the Premiership.

"It's a new challenge here and although it's been a difficult start, I want to be here for a long time."

A nagging back injury has prevented 31-year-old Poom from making a single senior appearance for rock-bottom Sunderland as they have plunged towards the drop.

But he stressed: "I hope my injury problems are behind me now. It was very disappointing to sign for Sunderland and then get injured almost straight away.

"It was made worse by the fact Thomas Sorensen and Thomas Myhre were also injured at that time and it would have been an opportunity for me to establish myself. Hopefully I'll stay fit now.

"It's been frustrating to see the team struggling and being injured. I knew I could not do anything about it.''

Meanwhile, former Manchester City midfielder Jeff Whitley is hoping to be handed a career lifeline by Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy.

Having impressed under McCarthy's gaze in the Reserves' home win over Manchester United this week, the 27-year-old Northern Ireland international is looking to win a contract after being released from Maine Road this month by mutual consent.

Whitley, who could be given a further chance to press his claims when Sunderland's second string face Bolton tomorrow, said: "I'm here to train and it's a chance for me to impress people.

"I'm delighted to have been given the chance at a club like Sunderland. They are a great club and I'm enjoying my time here. Hopefully things will work out."

Whitley's career stalled with City after he suffered a broken ankle, which sidelined him for six months last season. He then spent three months on loan at Notts County.

* Sunderland have agreed to extend goalkeeper Michael Ingham's loan to York City until the end of the season.

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