McCarthy won't write off Stead

Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy has backed striker Jon Stead to come good.

Under-pressure Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy has backed striker Jon Stead to come good.

McCarthy signed Stead in the summer for £1.8 million but the former Blackburn Rovers striker has so far failed to score this season.

The Black Cats are currently bottom of The Premiership and many of their fans are upset that the money McCarthy spent in the summer has failed to boost the squad.

However, McCarthy is once again refusing to criticise the 22-year-old. 

"I won't turn my back on him," said McCarthy.

"It's easy to mock and start knocking people. But I know that when I signed him, the feeling was that he was a good signing.

"Jon showed his qualities at Blackburn and arguably scored the goals that kept them in The Premiership, but it's not happening for him here.

"It's not happening for many of us at the moment.

"I feel lousy about how it's gone [for him] but we have to support the players."