GARY Breen has pointed to Sunderland's weekend demolition of Gillingham as proof that the Black Cats are not a one-man team.

Mick McCarthy's side enjoyed a 4-0 win at the Priestfield Stadium after producing their best display of the season in the absence of injured striker Kevin Kyle.

The Scotland international will undergo surgery on his hip later this week and is expected to face up to three months on the sidelines as a result.

Losing any first-team player for that length of time would be a major blow, but being without Kyle is of particular concern to a Sunderland side who have based much of their play around the striker's physical presence.

Kyle finished last season as the Black Cats' joint top scorer, with the likes of Marcus Stewart also benefiting from his ability to unsettle opposition defences.

That weapon might not be available until Christmas but, rather than struggling in his absence, Sunderland's frontline looked a far more mobile unit last weekend.

Stewart scored his first hat-trick in a red a white shirt, while Stephen Elliott also weighed in with his third goal of the campaign, and Breen is confident that tonight's Championship clash with Nottingham Forest will provide more evidence of his side's ability to alter their game according to the resources available.

"We play to Kevin's strengths - there's no doubt about that," admitted Breen, who was a major factor in Sunderland's first Championship clean sheet on Saturday.

"But, if he's not playing, we'll play to the strengths of the strikers who take his place.

"I'm sure teams can succeed in this league without a targetman. It showed on Saturday - we played a lot of balls down the channels and the Gillingham defence, who had coped well with a lot of other teams, couldn't cope with that.

"That's something we need to reinforce in every game we play now. We need to make it as difficult as we made it for Gillingham."

McCarthy has tried everything in an attempt to avoid surgery on Kyle's troublesome hip.

The Scotsman has had two separate scans, an injection, and intermittent periods of treatment and rest but, ultimately, an operation has proved to be the only option.

The current situation is far from ideal but, with the recent uncertainty removed, both player and manager at least now know where they stand.

"There's no doubt that it will be easier for Kevin now that he knows what's going to be done," admitted McCarthy. "He's having to fight through the pain barrier at the minute to turn out and play.

"It's been difficult for me to tread that fine balance between whether he's fully fit and trained enough or whether it would be better to throw him on for that last half hour.

"That can be a bit of a balancing act so, once that's taken out of our hands and the decision's made, it will be a bit of a relief.

"We're certainly not a long ball team, but Kevin will be missed because he's a nice weapon to have in your armoury."

Stewart and Elliott will be given another chance to impress this evening as Sunderland look to earn only their second home win of the campaign.

Elliott has impressed greatly since his summer move from Manchester City and, while the 20-year-old is still something of a novice at this level, McCarthy is confident he will handle the increased demands that will accompany Kyle's absence.

"I've been pleased with him," said the Sunderland boss. "Because he's somebody that's not had a lot of football.

"Prior to him coming to us, I think he's had 18 or 20 minutes of first-team action.

"He's a Premier League reserve player that we've picked up, taken a chance with, and he's doing fine for us."

Simon Johnson is a Championship reserve player that the Black Cats have also taken on board and, while the Leeds United striker was a last-minute recruitment on Friday morning, he will add valuable cover as Sunderland prepare to play five games in the next 14 days.

"He seemed to score against us in every reserve game he played and that's what first attracted me to him," said McCarthy. "He's here to add some depth if we need him."

Sunderland are likely to name an unchanged line-up this evening, with midfielder Carl Robinson ready to shake off the ankle knock he picked up in Kent.

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