SUNDERLAND are seeking a healthy compensation package after a pay-per-view match worth over £500,000 was postponed due to Liverpool's involvement in the World Club Championships.

Liverpool were due to play at the Stadium of Light on December 17, with a 5.15 kick-off, but the Reds travel to the Japan tournament six days earlier and hope to remain in the Far East until a week after the proposed date.

That means Sunderland will be the losers in the whole scenario, with the cancellation of the Sky television programme meaning there will be no very handy pay day.

And the Wearside club board have taken steps in a bid to ensure they do not miss out completely and are hoping to land around £250,000 in compensation.

A Sunderland spokesman said last night: "The match has been postponed and prior to this both ourselves and Liverpool were in discussions with the Premier League about it. As far as we are concerned the Premier League is dealing with it."

Liverpool, who earned the right to play in the controversial World Club Championships by winning the European Cup in May, had explored the possibility of opting out of the competition.

The Premier League had initially told the Anfield club that they would have to meet Sunderland's demands.

However, after the Premier League wrote to FIFA, they have been told appearing in the Championships is a must - meaning Liverpool do not see why they should have to cough up.

"We have responded to the Premier League by pointing out that this is a compulsory tournament so I don't see why we should be asked to pay compensation," said the Anfield chief executive Rick Parry. The competition is expected to net Liverpool over £1m and they accept they will be flying to the Far East in the build up to Christmas.

But that is of no use to Sunderland who look destined to miss out on the cash injection.

And the Premier League are hoping the whole situation will sort itself out by Sky agreeing to screen the rearranged fixture - on a date yet to be announced - on their pay-per-view channel.

Now the fixture looks to have been put back there is every chance striker Kevin Kyle will be able to play in it - contrary to reports in Scotland.

Kyle has not kicked a ball in over a year with a career-threatening hip problem, but summer surgery has gone along way to solving the problem.

It was claimed yesterday that the Scotland international had suffered a further set-back in his quest to regain full fitness, although he insists that is completely not true.

In fact Kyle is adamant he remains on track to return to action at the turn of the year, and back in full training before Christmas.

"I'm disappointed with the reports because I spoke to the specialist only this week and he is delighted with the progress I'm making - in fact, I'm well on course and expect to be back in training in December with a view to playing again in January," he said.

"The hip has never felt better and there is absolutely no question of whether I'll be fit again - it's only a matter of time, and I can't wait to get back into training and back with the lads, the sooner the better."

Kyle had a hip operation in Colorado in August and surgeon Dr Marc Phillipon hailed it as a success. "The whole thing has been uplifting for me and I'm now really looking forward to playing again," said Kyle.