TOMMY Miller's Sunderland career will get off to a flying start when he jets to Canada for the club's pre-season tour on Tuesday - provided a panic over planes doesn't leave him stranded at Amsterdam Airport.

The Black Cats squad are due to fly to the Dutch capital from Newcastle Airport on Tuesday morning, before embarking on a ten-hour flight to Vancouver to complete their journey.

Shotton Colliery-born Miller is itching to fulfill a childhood ambition by making his Sunderland debut in Thursday's opening pre-season friendly against a Victoria State select XI.

But the former Ipswich midfielder is rather less enthusiastic about the lengthy journey to Canada in the first place.

Arsenal's Dennis Bergkamp is the most high-profile player to harbour a fear of flying but, while the Dutchman has missed a succession of Champions League games because of his refusal to get on a plane, Miller is ready to fight his phobia for the Sunderland cause.

"Am I looking forward to pre-season?" asked the 26-year-old. "I am and I'm not. I'm a really bad flyer, I'm really not the best, so I'm a bit worried about the long flight.

"I've never travelled further than Cyprus. I went there for my honeymoon this summer, it was a four-hour flight and we picked it because that was the longest I could do.

"I'm looking forward to being over in Canada and the United States but getting there is a different matter.

"If there's any turbulence it could be a problem. Hopefully, I will be able to get some sleeping tablets from the physios. Otherwise I'll just have to keep my eyes closed and hope for the best.

"I have to say that the more I fly, the more I seem to dislike it. But what can I do?

"I'll just have to grit my teeth and get on with it."

While Miller is hoping to overcome his fears of flying next week, fellow newcomer Jon Stead is looking to get the better of the critics who have been questioning his ability in the last 12 months.

The 22-year-old made an instant impact when he moved from Huddersfield to Blackburn in February 2004, scoring six goals in 13 games to help keep Rovers in the Premiership.

Last season was a different story though, with Stead finding the back of the net just twice as he struggled to hold down a place in the Blackburn first team.

The striker's struggles in front of goal led to accusations of him being a 'one-season wonder' and, while he is confident of rediscovering his form on Wearside this term, he is sensible enough to accept that some of his staunchest critics will take a great deal of winning over.

"I could score 20 goals this season and somebody would say 'Why didn't you score 21'," said Stead, who will also be part of the Sunderland squad that finishes this month's tour with games against the Vancouver Whitecaps, Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers.

"There are always going to be cynics and people that try to put you down but, to be honest, I'm not bothered what anyone thinks as long as I know that I have done my job and done what I'm supposed to do.

"If I've done that I will be happy."

*Injury-plagued winger Matt Piper will get the chance to resurrect his faltering Sunderland career in this month's North American tour.

The 23-year-old, who has made just 23 appearances for the Black Cats since signing from Leicester in August 2002, will be part of the 21-man squad named by McCarthy at the start of next week.

"It's good news," said Piper, who took a course of injections at the end of last season to treat his latest knee problem. "I can't wait to get out there and play some football.

"I want to show the manager what I can do."

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