SUNDERLAND striker Kevin Kyle last night tipped the club's wing wizards to provide the ammunition to fire the Black Cats into the Premiership.

Mick McCarthy's side have struggled from a lack of genuine width at times this season, with John Oster and Sean Thornton being asked to overcome their natural desire to cut inside from the flank in recent weeks.

But with Matt Piper rapidly approaching full fitness after a seven-month lay-off, and Julio Arca declaring himself fit for tomorrow's game with Derby, McCarthy suddenly finds himself with a full compliment of widemen again.

Piper has still to start a first team game since injuring his knee against Preston on August 23, but the former Leicester winger is confident that he will be ready to get a full 90 minutes under his belt within the next couple of weeks.

Arca is ready to slot straight back in after shaking off a knee injury sustained in the FA Cup quarter-final win over Sheffield United, while Oster is looking more and more comfortable out on the flank.

Much of Kyle's game is based on his heading ability and, after shaking off illness to declare himself fit for tomorrow's game, the Scotsman has admitted he can't wait to see Sunderland's wingers flying again.

"I don't think there's any better wingers in the division than those three," said Kyle.

"Pipes has still got to get himself back in the team, but everyone knows what he can do and John's being doing it all this season.

"The last game I can remember playing with Matt was down at Arsenal last season and that seems a long, long time ago.

"He played that night and he was outstanding - crosses were coming in left, right and centre.

"He can do that. He just needs that yard then the ball's in the box. Hopefully he can get back into the team when I'm there at the same time.

"He's a great winger and that's something that we've probably missed this season.

"John's done excellently out on the left, but people have been getting injured and so the wingers have been chopping and changing.

"John's had his critics throughout his career here at Sunderland, but I think he's been outstanding this season. He's just got something different to everyone else. He's got that confidence and skill to beat people."

Tomorrow's game will be Kyle's seventh in 20 days if he is given the nod ahead of Tommy Smith, but any hopes the 22-year-old had of a deserved rest disappeared when he was called into Berti Vogts' Scotland squad for next week's friendly with Romania.

Sunderland completed the loan signing of Portsmouth midfielder Carl Robinson yesterday, and the Welsh international will go straight into the squad for the visit of Derby.

Robinson, who could replace the suspended Jeff Whitley, trained with his new team-mates for the first time yesterday.

The 27-year-old has already spent time at both Rotherham and Sheffield United this season and, after sampling life at the Stadium of Light, is confident Sunderland have what it takes to finish the season on a high.

"Everything at this club is geared towards the Premier League," said Robinson. "Hopefully we will be there next season.

"I'm delighted to come here. It's a massive club, the supporters are fantastic and the club has a huge fanbase.

"This club is flying at the moment and they have some high-quality players - probably the best squad in the division.

"Sunderland are flying in the League, and they are in the FA Cup semi-final, so there is a lot to look forward to.

"I'd like to get involved tomorrow but we'll have to wait and see. There are a lot of games coming up so hopefully I'll get the chance."

McCarthy had been eyeing up a possible loan move for Liverpool midfielder Jon Welsh ahead of last night's transfer deadline.

But Welsh broke his foot in a Liverpool Senior Cup game against Runcorn on Tuesday night.

* Sunderland striker Chris Black has signed for Third Division promotion chasers Doncaster. The 20-year-old had been told he was going to be released by the Black Cats at the end of the season.

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