SUNDERLAND are ready to step up their interest in former Manchester United goalkeeper Roy Carroll after learning that Mart Poom has been hit by yet another injury setback.

Poom, who was forced to sit out the final seven months of last season with a serious knee problem, was supposed to be representing Estonia in this evening's crucial World Cup qualifier with Portugal.

Instead, the 33-year-old is recovering from more surgery after picking up an infection in his knee earlier this week.

"Mart was suffering from a slight infection in his knee and has simply had it washed out," confirmed a Sunderland spokesman. "It is nothing serious and should not hinder his rehabilitation."

Poom is expected to return to training in a fortnight but, after making just 12 appearances last season, Black Cats boss Mick McCarthy will be concerned by the goalkeeper's latest setback.

West Ham are interested in taking the former Derby stopper to Upton Park but, even if McCarthy opts to keep him at the Stadium of Light, his recent injury problems mean he is not guaranteed to be an ever-present next term.

Thomas Myhre is just one of a number of goalkeepers to have been in discussions with the Black Cats over the past fortnight, and Carroll is the latest player to have been approached this week.

The 27-year-old, who was released by Manchester United last month, is desperate to stay in the Premiership and had harboured hopes of returning to his first club, Wigan Athletic.

Latics' boss Paul Jewell has distanced himself from speculation linking Carroll with a return to the JJB Stadium, and McCarthy aims to persuade the Northern Ireland international to move to Wearside.

Ipswich stopper Kelvin Davis has already turned his back on McCarthy's attempts to sign him, claiming he was unwilling to move from his Suffolk base.

Carroll's geographical preferences will present no such problems, but the Black Cats could struggle to meet his wages.

The shot-stopper, who was on more than £15,000-a-week at Old Trafford, will have to take a considerable pay cut if he is to sign for Sunderland. The Wearsiders, who remain confident of capturing both Blackburn striker Jon Stead and Ipswich midfielder Tommy Miller, yesterday confirmed their list of retained players.

There were no surprises, with Marcus Stewart, Jeff Whitley, Brian Deane and Michael Ingham all told they would not be offered new deals weeks ago.

Sean Thornton, Michael Bridges and Mark Lynch remain on the transfer list, while youngsters Ryan Bell, Lewis Dodds, Chris Kingsberry and Richie Ryan have also been released.

* Derby director of football Murdo Mackay has confirmed he too could be set to depart Pride Park in the wake of manager George Burley's shock resignation.

Burley announced his decision to quit as Rams boss yesterday and now Mackay has tendered his own resignation to club chairman John Sleightholme.