GEORGE McCARTNEY'S season has been blighted by injuries and, having returned to full fitness, he is desperate to ensure there is at least one bright spot by helping Sunderland secure a Premiership home win.

Fulham arrive at the Stadium of Light on Saturday as the 17th opportunity for the Black Cats to win a league game in front of their own supporters.

Twelve of those have ended in defeat and four have been drawn, but McCartney is hopeful this weekend could see three points finally arrive on Wearside.

The visit of Fulham coincides with a third planned demonstration against chairman Bob Murray and that could have a detrimental effect on the the team.

However, McCartney insists that is not the case. "I don't think who is chairman is anything to do with the players," said the left-back.

"Everyone's got their own opinions, but why should the players worry about what the fans are saying about the chairman?

"For me personally I don't think there's any added pressure. It's nice to go out and play in front of your own supporters.

"Maybe there are players who get a bit of added pressure on them because we haven't won a game all season. We just go out to play for ourselves, get three points and get past our target (19 points) as soon as possible."

Fulham languish three places above the relegation zone and nine points ahead of third from bottom Portsmouth.

But McCartney feels the Cottagers, who have not won away all season, will still offer staunch resistance.

"It's hugely important. People are saying Fulham's the game but there's been probably 16 others we should have won and it doesn't always work out like that," said McCartney.

"In this league they're all good teams, full of good players and football's a funny game. But we'll definitely be giving our all.

"Fulham are a decent team. Chris Coleman's got a good, hard-working team on his hands."

Although relegation looms the players are hoping striker Jon Stead finishes with a flourish.

Stead ended nearly 1,400 minutes without a goal since his £1.8m arrival from Blackburn in the summer at Everton, and McCartney has revealed huge relief was felt for the forward.

"Jon's a nice lad and it's been tough for him. He's been putting in some good performances without getting a goal but now he's finally got off the mark.

"When you're a striker you need goals to get confidence in yourself. He's just been working hard and it's good to see him getting his reward."

The trip to Goodison Park was only McCartney's seventh game of the season. He returned from a long-standing problem that caused pain in his leg on February 4 and three matches later Mick McCarthy was sacked.

But the display at Everton was encouraging, even if the point was purely for pride, and McCartney wants to see inroads made towards the 19-point total they set in 2003.

"Everton probably went out thinking it was going to be a game they should win but we made it difficult for them. There's been a lot of games where we've played really well but it's just not happened up front for us. The lads knew if we kept battling every game the luck would change."

Blackburn Rovers' Jerome Watt is no longer with Sunderland after his trial came to an end. The young right-winger will be monitored by Sunderland after he was told his contract at Ewood Park will not be renewed.

One man still at the Academy of Light is former Millwall striker Richard Sadlier, who was allowed to train with Sunderland during McCarthy's days as he tried to regain full fitness, having retired with a serious hip problem.

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