DEAN WHITEHEAD believes the key to automatic promotion to the Premier League this season lies at the door of the top three teams' strikers.

Only goal difference separates Sunderland, Ipswich and Wigan - all on 66 points - at the top of the Coca Cola Championship.

Wigan head the league table with a goal difference of plus 35 from Sunderland, plus 22, then Ipswich, plus 19.

Latics can thank the free-scoring duo Nathan Ellington and Jason Roberts for their 13-goal cushion. They top the Championship goal scoring charts with Ellington on 21 and Roberts 16.

But in Marcus Stewart and Stephen Elliott the Black Cats boast their own scoring partnership.

Stewart joined his Sunderland team-mate on 13 goals for the season when he headed the winner in Saturday's 2-1 home victory over Cardiff.

The Tractor Boys have Shefki Kuqi and Darren Bent in attack, boasting 15 and 14 goals respectively.

The East Anglian side's blip has coincided with Kuqi's absence - a draw and two defeats have followed since the Finnish striker was sidelined with a leg injury.

Joe Royle acted swiftly to bring in striker Jamie Scowcroft from Leicester after learning Kuqi will be missing for a month, but the on -loan striker has yet to find the net.

Wigan are as reliant on Ellington and Roberts, and boss Paul Jewell recently bid for Southampton's Brett Ormerod and former Stoke City striker Ade Akinbiyi, before he signed for Burnley in a £600,00 deal.

Whitehead, however, is backing Sunderland to cope with the loss of Elliott or Stewart.

They have been forced to operate for most of the season without the services of Kevin Kyle and Whithead believes the Wearsiders have enough strength in depth to cope.

The 23-year-old says Michael Bridges, Chris Brown and the returning Kyle provide adequate cover.

"Ipswich have quality strikers in Bent, and Jim Magilton," said Whitehead. "But they have a lot of experienced players and a lot of good youngsters.

"Strikers hold the key in this league. It is important that you can turn to your strikers to get the goals when it matters.

"It is important when we're on top to score goals, and we have Stephen Elliott and Marcus Stewart who are banging in goals for fun for us. And every time Browny comes on he has an impact on the game.

"It maybe wasn't one of his better games when he came on against Watford, but he got his goal and that is what it is all about for strikers."

Whitehead also feels Sunderland hold more aces in their pack than their Championship rivals in other departments too.

The Black Cats' 2-1 victory over Cardiff at the Stadium of Light last weekend provided further evidence of this when Andy Welsh performed admirably in place of the injured Julio Arca.

"We have strength in depth all over the pitch," added the former Oxford United midfielder.

"We have two centre halves who can come in, full backs, midfielders, keepers, and cover all over. We have a good squad.

"We have a lot of good youngsters knocking on the door and every time there is a suspension or an injury then we have people who can step in."

Meanwhile, Carl Robinson could miss Friday's crucial Championship clash at Burnley.

The Welsh international broke his nose in Saturday's victory against Cardiff at the Stadium of Light.

He suffered the same injury in Sunderland's 1-0 victory at Rotherham in October.

Read more about Sunderland here.