STEPHEN Wright wants to emulate best friend Steven Gerrard by completing a meteoric rise from the Liverpool Academy to the England team.

Sunderland's new signing has looked on enviously over the past two years as Gerrard, an Anfield colleague of Wright since they were ten, has established himself as an indispensable member of the national set-up.

Wright, 22, was promoted to Liverpool's senior squad at the same time as Gerrard, but while the defender has stagnated in the Reds reserves the midfielder has blossomed into a world-class player.

Wright managed just 21 senior appearances for Liverpool but views his £3m transfer to Sunderland as the perfect platform from which to build a convincing case for international recognition.

Having played for England at Under-16, 18, 20 and 21 levels, a senior cap is the only honour that still eludes Wright, who will make his Black Cats debut at Blackburn tomorrow.

After completing the formalities of his move to Wearside yesterday, the right-back outlined his burning ambition to link up again with Gerrard, wearing the three lions of England.

Wright said: "Myself and Steven came through the ranks together and he deserved to be picked by England when he was called up.

"He got the start that he wanted, and good luck to him. My call-up came a little bit later than I thought with the Under-21s.

"Now I just want to play as much as I can and give everything for Sunderland. Anything after that comes if you're playing regularly for your club and playing well.

"Myself and Steven were at the Academy for just two weeks after it opened when Gerard Houllier asked us to join the senior squad.

"Soon after that, we went to a European game away to Celta Vigo. We only went there for the experience - but we were both on the bench."

Peter Reid was able to lure Wright to Sunderland after the defender accepted that Anfield's foreign legion had squeezed him out.

Germany's Markus Babbel, fit again after winning a year-long battle against the potentially fatal Guillan-Barre syndrome, and Portugal international Abel Xavier - signed from Everton earlier this year - were both ahead of Wright in the Liverpool pecking order.

He said: "The players at Liverpool now are top-quality internationals and you've got to be something special to be picked.

"With the foreigners that are coming over, the English players are getting pushed to the bottom.

"But one man picks the team and you can't do anything about it, and I left on great terms. There's no nastiness from either side."

Wright is Reid's fourth signing of the summer and the Sunderland manager is surprised at the ease with which he was able to prise the full-back from Liverpool.

Reid said: "No disrespect to Liverpool, but I wasn't confident of getting a 'yes' or any encouragement at all when I asked about Stephen.

"Besides his ability, which is unquestionable, he has a great drive and determination in his play.

"He is a winner, has pace and strength, and he can handle a ball. But it's no use if you do not have a desire. Stephen has left a massive football club where he was highly rated, but this is a great football club and the biggest thing for us is he wants to play."

Boss goes to war with Bates

PETER Reid told Ken Bates to mind his own business last night as the Sunderland manager went to war with the outspoken Chelsea chairman.

A day after Bates questioned Reid's coaching ability, the Stadium of Light boss hit back with a verbal volley designed to hit the Chelsea pensioner where it hurts.

The Blues are reported to be £97.7m in debt and Bates has in recent times been heavily criticised for his part in the Wembley fiasco.

Bates heralded the end of "chequebook management" this summer and added: "We will now find out how good a coach Peter Reid is."

But Reid said: "I think Mr Bates's biggest strength is looking after the financial side of clubs, so I think he should look after his club.

"If I were him, I'd put all my energies into Chelsea, or the FA, or Wembley, or whatever he wants."

Reid also revealed he hoped to add to his squad before the trip to Blackburn and said: "I've been criticised for not getting a striker in, but I refute suggestions I've not tried; I've worked like a Trojan to sort something out."

Read more about Sunderland here.