Sunderland centre-half Ben Clark is expecting a 'Byfield backlash' when his side travel to Gillingham tomorrow.

The trip to the Priestfield Stadium will see the Black Cats come face to face with striker Darren Byfield for the first time since his summer move from the Stadium of Light.

The Jamaica international made 17 appearances after signing a short-term contract on Wearside in February, but turned down Sunderland's offer of a new deal in the close season.

Black Cats boss Mick McCarthy used Byfield sparingly last term but, since moving to Gillingham, the lively striker has bagged three goals in six games while his former side have struggled to find the back of the net.

He will be hoping to take his tally to four tomorrow and, after lining up against him in training earlier this year, Clark fully expects Byfield to offer a stiff test to the Sunderland backline.

"Darren's a very good player," said Clark, who is back to full fitness following a hamstring problem. "He's quick and he's sharp, he likes the ball at his feet and he is a very dangerous striker.

"We know a lot about him and we know he will be a real handful for us on Saturday.

"It seems to happen a lot that players score against their old clubs and I don't doubt that he will be desperate to get a goal against us this weekend. We have to watch him for 90 minutes or he will punish us.

"He's a nice lad and, like all the lads who leave Sunderland, we wish him all the best for the rest of his career - but not this weekend.

"On Saturday, we have to make sure he doesn't score, we have to get the victory we need and he will be a big threat to our hopes of doing that."

Byfield left under something of a cloud this summer, with his agent criticising Sunderland for their retraction of a contract offer after the frontman initially refused to sign.

The 27-year-old maintains that he never wanted to leave the Stadium of Light and, while he is focused on helping his new club climb the Championship table, he remains disappointed at the way in which he was treated by McCarthy.

"The only disappointing thing is that I didn't hear anything from Mick McCarthy about what was happening," said Byfield. "I wanted to stay at Sunderland because it's a massive club and I enjoyed it there, but things didn't work out.

"It's always special when you play one of your old clubs, but I don't see any point in having grudges in life - it doesn't get you anywhere."

Clark could be forgiven for harbouring grudges of his own given his treatment in the opening month of the campaign.

The imposing defender did little wrong in the opening day defeat at Coventry, but still found himself dropped to the bench for the 3-1 win over Crewe three days later.

He has not featured since - a situation strangely similar to last season when he played in three of the first four games before being axed from the squad following injury.

"I have had a sense of deja vu after what happened last season," he admitted. "I played the first game at Coventry and I thought that I did quite well.

"I was left out for the next game but that was the manager's decision. I was pleased with my performance but the manager wanted to change things.

"He thought he had to do that. But, as a player, I thought I had done enough to stay in the team after Coventry."

A hamstring problem has given him time to reflect on McCarthy's decision and, while he accepts that his fate is ultimately in his manager's hands, Clark is determined to earn a second chance.

"I have realised that I really need to be playing now," said the Shotley Bridge-born stopper. "I need to get back in the team. I want to show the fans what I can do because they haven't seen the best of me. I have been around for a while now and I want to prove that I am justified in being at the club.

"The majority of supporters I have spoken to have said that I should be playing. They have been excellent with me.

"When they ask why I'm not in the team it's hard to come up with an answer. I don't know what to say."

* Coventry manager Peter Reid claims he is ''very happy'' at Highfield Road following reports linking him with the vacant managerial position at Blackburn.

''I'm very happy as Coventry City manager and I don't really want to comment on speculation, which is all these stories are,'' said the former Sunderland boss. ''I'm here to do a job and I'm very much enjoying doing that job."