TEENAGE Argentinian Julio Arca is set to be thrown straight into the Premiership fray after training with his new Sunderland teammates this week.

Wearside boss Peter Reid insisted there was "no panic" after a second defeat in the space of four days at Ipswich - but he admits he must think long and hard before the next game against West ham United at the Stadium of Light a week tomorrow night.

And Reid, who knows that his side needs an injection of confidence after a very disappointing start to the new campaign, could decide that the brilliant teenager he paid £3.5m for is the type of quality player who could help put the team back on the rails.

Reid confirmed: "Arca has arrived in the country and he will join us for training this week."

The left-sided player, who can play in a variety of positions, was not at Ipswich after a gruelling flight from South America and did not see his club struggle against a newly promoted Ipswich team many pundits are tipping to go straight back down.

Reid was clearly not a happy man after a very poor performance in a 1-0 defeat at Portman Road which could have been far heavier.

He said: "We haven't got a game on Saturday and this gives me time to look at certain things. We need to work on our passing. Our players all do it well on the training pitch, but we haven't done it well enough against Ipswich.

"I am not in the happiest of moods."

Reid acknowledged: "I don't think we deserved anything from the game.

"We battled but we didn't pass the ball and if you don't do that you don't win football matches.

"But we have only played three matches and there is no need to panic."

Former Sunderland defender George Burley appreciates his unfashionable side is being tipped to occupy one of the bottom three places at the end of the season.

But after taking a point out of champions Manchester United and beating Sunderland he said: "We know every game in the Premiership will be difficult and it will be a hard season, but we fear nobody.

"I am proud at the way we have started and we are more than holding our own in the Premiership. Sunderland are a good side, but I think they found it difficult to cope with some of our movement."

Goal: Bramble (51 mins, 1-0)

Bookings: Holloway (shirt pulling); J Wright (handling).

Attendance: 21,830

Referee: Graham Poll (Tring)

Ipswich Town (4-4-2): R Wright 6; Wilnis 7, BRAMBLE 8, Hreidarsson 6, Venus 7; J Wright 7, Magilton 7, Holland 6, Clapham 6; Johnson 7, Stewart 6 (Scowcroft 55 mins, 6). Subs (not used): Branagan, Croft, McGreal, Reuser.

Sunderland (4-4-2): Macho 6; Makin 6, Butler 5, CRADDOCK 7, Gray 6; Thirlwell 5 (Oster 58 , 6), Holloway 5, Mutchison 5, Kilbane 5; Quinn 6, Phillips 6. Subs (not used): Marriott, Nunez, Roy, McCartney.

Man of the Match

Teenage match-winner Titus Bramble - a name to look out for