SUNDERLAND teenager Sean Thornton wants to become the Republic of Ireland's Wayne Rooney by gatecrashing his country's Euro 2004 qualifying campaign.

Three days after Rooney confirmed his international credentials at the Stadium of Light, Thornton belied his tender years against Chelsea's star-studded line-up.

Not only did the 19-year-old score a wonderful goal to open his first-team account at Sunderland, but he also won his private battle with Frank Lampard.

Thornton's display left Mick McCarthy purring as the former Ireland coach backed his midfielder to follow clubmates Kevin Kilbane, Jason McAteer and Phil Babb into his country's full side.

The Sunderland manager said: "I didn't really know much about Sean when I came here because he wasn't quite in the international set-up with us.

"But this performance was very good, and if he keeps playing like that it won't be long before he's in the seniors rather than the Under-21s.

"I like to be happy, but if his performances fall below that standard he will have a grumpy manager to contend with.

"It will be a younger Sunderland team next season, and Sean Thornton's performance - and that of Kevin Kyle - proved that we've got some young players who can take this club forward.

"I'm looking forward to working with them on a regular basis."

Thornton is keen to help Sunderland secure their first victory since McCarthy took charge to break their new manager's duck after three successive defeats.

He said: "If anybody needs a result, it's the manager. We just want that win, and hopefully we'll get it next week. It was great to get my first goal for the club, especially at home and with it being a good strike.

"And at half-time, everybody was confident we'd get a result.

"Every player wants to play week in, week out, and that's what I want to do. I want to put on that shirt every week and put on a good performance.

"The First Division is hard, but it's not as tough as the Premiership. I think it's the best League in the world."

McCarthy reckons the reaction of Sunderland's fans on Saturday augurs well for next season's battle to return to the top flight.

He added: "The supporters are watching a team whose Premier League future is hanging by a thread, yet they gave us a standing ovation at half time and at the end. We appreciated that, and we'll need them all the more if the worst comes to the worst and we go down."

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