THE decision to leave Grant Leadbitter out of Monday's North-East derby must have been secretly heartbreaking for the youngster, but Sunderland caretaker boss Kevin Ball revealed his protg accepted the decision like a true professional.

The 20-year-old midfielder has been an ever-present in the Black Cats line-up since he made his first senior start in the 2-0 defeat at Blackburn in mid-February.

Leadbitter insisted he was determined to hold down a regular place in the first team following his breakthrough and says he would have been disappointed if he had not done so when the Wear-Tyne derby came around.

Being a Black Cats' fanatic himself, Leadbitter understands more than most the enormity, importance and significance of a clash between Sunderland and their bitter rivals Newcastle United.

But Ball insisted he was right to leave Leadbitter on the sidelines as he opted for an experienced central midfield pairing of Dean Whitehead and Tommy Miller in the 137th Wear-Tyne derby at the Stadium of Light on Easter Monday.

"He has played a lot of games. We have assessed him over a number of games in terms of his output in various areas and we just thought that this would be the time to rest him," revealed the Black Cats' stand-in chief.

"That was my decision. I spoke to him before the game and told him what I was going to do. It was a hard decision because I know he is a local lad and I know how much he would have liked to have played in that game. But the biggest thing is the team and what's good for that.

"I like to think he understands that. He might not accept it because he wanted to play. But he has to understand it, because that's football."

Given that Leadbitter was brought up as a fan in Fence Houses, near Chester-le-Street, it would be understandable if his emotions did not get the better of him.

Ball says this couldn't have been further from the truth.

"He (Leadbitter) just said 'fine'," added Ball. "There was no problem at all. I would understand him being disappointed.

"I would expect him to be that way and I would be disappointed if he wasn't. But, ultimately, decisions have to be made and if I feel they are for the good of the team. I hope players will accept them.

"If the players do have a problem, I say to them 'now is not the time to talk about it because we have a big game'.

"What is important is the team, not the individual. If they want to come and see me later, please do so. You have to make a decision and stick with it. I have learnt that from managers in the past. You do what you feel is right."

With the Wearsider's ill-fated campaign drawing to a close it looks as if they will have to do without the considerable talents of Rory Delap and Stephen Elliott, as they try to overhaul their lowest Premier League points total of 19 with four games to go.

"We are waiting to see if he (Delap) needs another (operation)," said Ball, who is also resigned to losing Elliott for the last few games due to an Achilles problem. "He has already had a small one (operation) and is at home recuperating at the moment.

"He can't do anything active for a couple of weeks. That will spell an end to his season. My only concern is to make sure that his welfare is okay, it's important we do that."

Better news for the Black Cats' trip to Portsmouth this weekend is that Julio Arca should be fit. The Argentine made a cameo appearance in the reserves 6-1 win over West Brom.

Ball added: "Julio had an hour for the reserves this week which was important.

"We don't want him breaking down so it has been important to bring him back at the right pace."

* Arsenal centre-back Sol Campbell has been ruled out of tomorrow's north London derby clash against former club Tottenham.

The 31-year-old has failed to recover from surgery on the broken nose he received last week