TYNESIDER Lee Clark, who enraged Sunderland supporters by being pictured wearing a derogatory T-shirt after helping to win the First Division Championship, admits a feeling of apprehension about facing his old club in the second game of the new Premiership season.

The 28-year-old former Newcastle midfielder was summarily shown the door at the Stadium of Light, despite being the club's record £3m signing, transferring to Fulham, where he has helped the Londoners win their way to the top flight.

Sunderland open Fulham's Premiership programme at Craven Cottage on August 22 - and Clark expects a hot reception from the usual large following of Wearside fans.

Speaking on the Fulham website Clark - voted the club's Player of the Year last season - admits: "I am not expecting the best reception from the away supporters.

"The reason I left the club has been well documented - but the T-shirt incident is a massive regret in my career."

Clark, a life-long Newcastle fan, was photographed at Wembley supporting United in the 1999 FA Cup Final wearing a T-shirt offensive to his own club's supporters.

Ironically, Clark had won over Sunderland fans with his whole-hearted displays in the red-and-white stripes, helping the club win the First Division Championship but his astonishing choice of attire at Wembley was deemed unforgivable and manager Peter Reid had little option but to put him on the transfer list.

Clark has been a huge success at the London club and played a major part in the side which won the First Division Championship last season, winning Fulham a place in the Premiership for the first time.

There has been suggestions that Clark would return to Newcastle this summer, but he is a huge favourite among Fulham fans and Tigana regards him as an vitally important part of his team.

* Sunderland's two young Argentinian stars Julio Arca and Nicolas Medina played together for the first time in the FIFA World Youth Championships, helping to earn a semi-final tie against paraguay with a 3-1 victory over France.

Arca was substitute in Argentina's first four games of the tournament as he recovered from ankle and hamstring injuries, but played the full game against France.

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