MICK McCARTHY has already apologised to his players in a bid to make sure the Coca-Cola manager of the month curse does not dampen the club's Championship title hopes.

McCarthy was named March's top boss yesterday after guiding the Black Cats to four straight victories, a run that has seen them climb to the pinnacle of the Football League.

But, recalling what happened the last time he received the gong, the Sunderland boss is hoping there will be no repeat this time around as they look to make a return to the Premiership.

Exactly a year ago McCarthy was given the accolade but was quickly brought back down to earth with a defeat in the FA Cup semi-final against Millwall at Old Trafford.

And now the former Republic of Ireland manager is hoping there will be no case of history repeating itself when Sunderland face another London club, QPR, tomorrow.

McCarthy, after learning the news yesterday, also felt the need to light-heartedly say sorry to his squad in advance of promotion chasers in case the infamous monthly winners' curse struck again at Loftus Road.

"I have to apologise publically for getting the award," joked McCarthy, who was run close for the March prize by Wigan's Paul Jewell, QPR's Ian Holloway and Gillingham's Stan Ternent.

"There's not a lot I can do about it if I do get it. All I can claim to the players is that it should be team of the month rather than manager. I'm trying to apportion blame before Saturday's game in case things don't go our way.

"I know Tony Pulis (Stoke manager) won it last month and they drew, so that gives us all hope if that's the case.

"I would say it's come a month early. I would like to get it at the end of April. If I have got it for April then we should be in a good position for where we want to end up come the end of the season."

Sunderland go to QPR looking to extend their winning streak to seven games and victory would also put them in an ideal frame of mind for the trip to promotion rivals Wigan on Tuesday.

New signing Brian Deane will be available for them both after his deadline day switch from Leeds United, but once again there will be no place in the travelling party for Kevin Kyle.

Sunderland have resigned themselves to being without the big Scotsman for the remainder of the campaign after his failure to overcome the hip injury that has dogged him for most of the season.

The 23-year-old, who had surgery last year in a bid to rectify the problem and has had numerous injections to ease the pain, has taken part in gentle training in recent months but has been unable to recover.

Now Sunderland are putting all their efforts into making sure that Kyle, who has not played since the defeat at Reading on August 31, will regain full fitness before the start of the next season.

"Time's running out for him. His hip is still getting looked at regularly," said McCarthy.

"Another operation might be worth exploring again in the summer.

"Kyle is bigger than most and it's had that effect. We are trying to get it right."

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