THE good news for Sunderland is Jeff Whitley was at Manchester City when they made an immediate return to the Premiership in 2002.

The bad news for Sunderland is he was also a Maine Road player when they dropped from the top flight to the Second Division in the space of two years.

The lesson, as Whitley will vouch, is simple: for every Leicester City, who went straight back up last season, there is a Sheffield Wednesday - who kick off the new campaign in English football's third tier.

The Maine Road story is a salutary tale for Sunderland, for whom 28-year-old Whitley will make his debut at Nottingham Forest today.

He said: "Everyone will want to beat us because we've just come out of the Premier League and because we're a big club.

"We have to make sure the fighting spirit is there and we have to carry that on throughout the whole season.

"When we went down into the Second Division it was devastating; we were in complete shock.

"It wasn't because of a lack of trying, but things weren't coming off.

"We ended up down there and things went from bad to worse.

"Once you get on that slippery slope it's hard to get off it, and we can't afford to even think about starting badly.

"I have a lot of experience of the First Division, and if any of the lads haven't played down there before I can tell them that it's a tough league to get out of.

"But the players aren't deluding themselves. We know it won't be a walkover. Every game will be a battle."

Whitley's patience paid off this week when he officially became a Sunderland player, four months after first linking up with the club.

The Northern Ireland international will add steel to the midfield following Gavin McCann's move to Aston Villa and he is relishing the chance to play regular first-team football.

Whitley made just two appearances in the League for City in his last two years at Maine Road, but he has been given the chance to kickstart his career at Sunderland.

He said: "I had a rough time at City. Coming from Manchester, I was gutted to leave.

"But I've got to look to the future and hopefully I can get back there with Sunderland.

"I thought I had a good season in the Premiership with City. I know we got relegated but we had a tough time there.

"Playing against world class players is what it's all about. It was a good test, and to play in that league gives you the incentive to succeed.

"There's nothing better than playing in the Premier League. The goal is to get back up there and be part of it.

"I've left a big club in Manchester City but I've joined another one in Sunderland.

"We've all worked hard over the summer and hopefully we can all gel together."

Mick McCarthy reckons Whitley has had a positive impact on the club off the pitch and brought the best out of a handful of his teammates.

The Sunderland manager said: "Jeff's brought a bit of spirit to the place and he likes to put his foot in a tackle.

"He's provoked people in that one or two others have sat up and started putting their foot in, like Sean Thornton and Paul Thirlwell; they've had a look at themselves.

"He's a good guy to have around. He gets about the pitch and he's one we'll need in the First Division this season."

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