LOAN ranger Simon Johnson is confident that he will still be a Sunderland player by the end of the week.

The Leeds United striker, who scored twice in last night's 4-0 reserve win over Everton, is due to return to Elland Road tomorrow after a one-month stay at the Stadium of Light.

His first-team opportunities have been severely restricted in that time, with four substitute appearances amounting to no more than 42 minutes of action.

He didn't even make the bench as Sunderland drew 0-0 with Derby last weekend. But despite his failure to break into the first team, Mick McCarthy remains an avowed admirer.

The Black Cats boss has regularly spoken of his desire to have a longer look at Johnson, and the 21-year-old would love the chance to prove himself on Wearside.

"Hopefully I can extend my loan," said Johnson, who made nine Premiership appearances for Leeds. "The gaffer has said he wants me to stay at Sunderland for a while longer and that's music to my ears.

"I'd be more than happy to stay here. It's been good to be involved with the first team, which wasn't happening at Leeds, and I've enjoyed every minute of it.

"A decision has to be made within the next couple of days so I'm just going to have to sit tight and hope for the best.

"I was always brought in as cover and so I didn't expect to make an immediate impact in the first team. But I feel I'm getting closer and I would enjoy the challenge of another month here.

"With the lads doing so well, I can't argue with the manager's team selection."

Despite Kevin Kyle's injury, Johnson has struggled to dislodge McCarthy's preferred pairing of Marcus Stewart and Stephen Elliott.

Stewart's own injury problems looked to have opened the door, but Chris Brown's brace in the Carling Cup defeat at Crewe pushed Johnson even further down the pecking order.

However, last season highlighted the need for strength in depth, with Darren Byfield and Tommy Smith both aiding Sunderland's promotion push.

Johnson is confident that the Black Cats will be involved in the end of season shake-up again this term, and has not given up hope of being involved in the latter stages of the campaign.

"Sunderland are definitely going to be involved in the promotion places," he said. "They have one of the best squads in the division and a good run of games should cement the club's position near the top.

"I have learnt from my short time here. You learn things from different players - I've picked up a lot from the likes of Julio Arca, who's a great player - and it's just good to be around talented players.

"I've said before that I might have been going a bit stale at Leeds and the change of scene has been good for me. You can stay at one club for too long and the loan to Sunderland has really kick-started things for me."

* Stewart is confident he will have recovered from a thigh injury in time to face Millwall on October 16.

The former Ipswich striker limped out of last weekend's 0-0 draw with Derby just two days after recovering from a hamstring problem.

* Sunderland reserves hammered their Everton counterparts 4-0 as on-loan striker Simon Johnson scored twice at Southport's Haig Avenue ground last night.

Sean Thornton, a reported Everton target, was also on the scoresheet as the Black Cats second string proved too strong for a very young Everton line up.

Thornton scored the first after 11 minutes, driving a low shot past Lake in the home goal.

Neil Teggart made it two on 22 minutes and six minutes later Johnson chipped the Blues keeper from the penalty spot to make it 3-0. Sunderland's fourth and Johnson's second came on 76 minutes.

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