RAE GUNS FOR RECOGNITION

A BRIEF glance at this season's appearance charts reveals that Sunderland's impressive rise to second place in the Premiership table has coincided with Alex Rae's return to first team action. The notoriously hard midfielder is now hoping that his current form will earn him a Scottish international call-up, so Opta examined his case.

The former Millwall player missed the opening eight matches of the campaign through injury and the Black Cats managed to register only two wins during that period. Since his comeback in October however - some 16 games ago - Peter Reid's side have lost just twice and Rae was the first to admit: "I'm playing at a high level every week and my form is consistent.

Prior to his return to the starting XI, Sunderland scored less than a goal a game on average, but Rae has offered the team an extra attacking outlet. He scored two scorching goals from distance in back-to-back wins over Charlton and Everton - the former strike ending The Addicks' unbeaten home record. In addition to those point-winning contributions, Rae has also weighed in with three goal assists for his team-mates.

The 31-year-old is renowned for his aggressive style but a brief summer spell in the Priory Clinic appears to have curbed his temper somewhat. Last season he picked up a total of eight bookings and was dismissed twice, however he has received only two yellow cards in more than 23 hours of top-flight football this term.

But fortunately for Reid the Glaswegian has lost none of his competitiveness along the way. Despite a delayed start to the season, Rae has attempted more tackles than any other player at the north east club and has won more challenges than Old Firm pair Barry Ferguson and Paul Lambert - Scotland's first choice central midfield pairing.

As well as being an accomplished ball-winner, Rae has rarely wasted possession this season. He has found a red-and-white striped shirt with 73% of his distribution - which is above the Premiership average - and only Michael Gray has made more successful passes for the Black Cats in 2000-01.

Rae is now being noticed for his ability on the field rather than his short fuse and that will do his international prospects no harm at all. If he can maintain his own high standards and continue to impress for Sunderland, then Rae could well earn himself a belated cap for his country in the World Cup qualifier against Belgium in March.

Mark Willis