JASON McAteer has warned Wanderers that they will have their work cut out to avoid being swept aside by Sunderland's new broom at the Stadium of Light.

The arrival of new manager Mick McCarthy has generated a new mood of optimism on Wearside and with a newly-laid pitch and a packed crowd behind them, things could be looking up for the Premiership's bottom club.

"There are a lot of positives," said the optimistic McAteer. "We have a new pitch, a new manager and the crowd will be upbeat. Also the players will be desperate to show what they can do.

"If we can get a win, the whole thing will gain momentum. We'll give it our best shot and I'm sure the crowd will."

Ex-Wanderer McAteer played under McCarthy for six years with the Republic if Ireland and reckons Sunderland are lucky to have been able to recruit a manager of his calibre.

"It was only a matter of time before Mick was back in a job," said the midfielder. "This is his first since leaving Ireland and Sunderland have got lucky.

"I was sad to see Howard (Wilkinson) and Steve (Cotterill) go. I learned a lot from them and had respect from them. They were good guys. But the club has done the right thing in appointing someone quickly. We needed that because of the position we're in. Mick's appointment will give us a boost.

"The lads met him for the first time on Wednesday and he was exactly as I've known him for six years. Honest. He told us what he expects and what he wants and we go from here.

"As a manager, he's bright and breezy and demands 110 per cent from his players. If you give him that, he'll give you support back."

McCarthy returned from last Summer's World Cup to a hero's reception as the Irish were greeted by 100,000 fans in Dublin's Phoenix Park. But the Roy Keane affair cast a shadow over the launch of their European Championship qualification programme and eventually led to his departure four months ago.

"It was difficult for Mick," McAteer told Sunderland's official website. "But for me he did a great job for Ireland and a lot of people would argue he still should be manager."