STEVEN CALDWELL has given his team-mates a stark warning of the pressures involved in playing in what he describes as the 'cut-throat' world of the Premier League.

Former Newcastle defender Caldwell dropped down a division at the end of last season when he switched from Tyneside to Wearside in his search for regular first-team football.

The 24-year-old's gamble that his time out of the top flight would be short has paid dividends, and it was the Scotland international who ensured promotion was achieved on Saturday with an excellent winning header on the hour mark against Leicester City.

Although thoughts of the Premiership will be put on hold temporarily while the players celebrate their success, Caldwell is well aware that Mick McCarthy's fledgling squad are in a massive culture shock next season.

Caldwell said: "It's a much more, cut-throat is a word I'd use because it's clinical - if you make slight mistakes they're punished in the Premiership much more than in this league.

"The standard is much higher that the league we've been in but that's ahead of us.

"The manager knows that, the players will realise that soon enough, and certainly four or five of us know that because we've been fortunate enough to play there before.

"The important thing is that we've all improved this season and I think the improvements will come from playing against better players.

"I certainly feel I've improved over the year.

"Certainly the likes of Liam Lawrence Stephen Elliott, Dean Whitehead.

"I joined this club to get promoted and go to the Premier League. I listened to what the gaffer had to say and I looked about the place and I realised it was a club going places.

"That's why I came here. We didn't start the season too well but we always felt we would get it together. We have excellent players at the club, a good squad and that's what you need for this league.

"It (promotion) was certainly in my mind because everyone wants to be in the Premier League."

The positive influence the Sunderland manager has on the squad, and his ability to create a team spirit second to none is seen by Caldwell as a major factor behind their promotion - with the defence the major beneficiaries of the 57 times Ireland international's experience.

Although the free signing from the Magpies freely admits he doesn't always agree with McCarthy, he can't help but learn from the former centre-back.

Caldwell said: "He's been very influential - certainly on myself and the other defenders - because he's been a centre-half.

"I'm reasonably young and I've got a lot to learn. I've not played too much football in my career, unfortunately, and I'm learning off a guy who's played at the highest level.

"I've had my disagreements with him because I'm passionate and he's passionate, but I've always respected him.

"Everyone else in there (dressing room) is the same. At the right time he calms us down and at the right time he gives us a rollicking. We have to be ready for either or.

"He's a good man-manager and he's got to be given credit for creating a good team spirit. He's brought a lot of players to the club and somehow these guys had to gel.

"For whatever reason he's got this team to gel together. You go out on that park every week and you'd do anything for your mate.

"Everyone of us are very good friends. We'll all be celebrating together and it's something you'll savour for the rest of your career."

There may still be a few sore heads at the Whitburn training ground this morning, but Caldwell believes the players will be determined to end the season on a high by lifting the Championship either at West Ham on Friday, or at home to Stoke in their final game of the season.

"We're pleased it's come early because now we can concentrate on winning the Championship which is something we feel strongly about," he said.

"We'll enjoy the weekend but then we have to knuckle down for West Ham because we feel we've been the best team in the league all year and we have to prove that by winning the league.

"When the whistle went I looked over to a group of people I knew and it was clear that no team had won the game comfortably - either Leeds or Ipswich.

"Luckily Leeds had done a job. Leeds are a club that are close to my heart because I had an excellent time there.

"It's a proud club and it's a club whose fans certainly won't let poor performances go.

"I knew Leeds would be up for it and they were obviously going to give their best - which they did."

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