Football: BUTLER'S WILD GOOSE CHASE FINALLY OVER; I was glad Sgt Wilko was sacked.

Byline: GARRY DOYLE

IT has been little over a year since Tommy Butler was dubbed the new Damien Duff.

But things haven't exactly gone to plan for the Sunderland winger ever since then.

A succession of injuries last season blighted his progress to such an extent that he soon lost his mantle as Ireland's most promising player to club mate Sean Thornton.

And then there were the managers at the Stadium of Light who, Butler claims, didn't help matters.

Sunderland started the season with Peter Reid in charge but he was sacked as manager of the Black Cats after just two wins in nine games - the club's worst start to a Premiership campaign.

His record, however, looked impressive when compared to that of Howard Wilkinson.

Sergeant Wilko only managed two victories in 20 games and decided that the best way to teach his players teamwork was by showing them a wildlife video of geese flying through the sky!

It's only now that former Ireland manager Mick McCarthy has taken over does Butler feel that some sense of normality has returned to the Black Cats.

Since April the signs are that both and the club's fortunes are finally changing.

For Butler, the arrival of McCarthy - the man who had given him his two Ireland caps - was welcome.

"There is such a better atmosphere here now," he says. There was depression here last year. We were losing every game and heads were down. Managers were coming and going - no one was sure of their future.

"Now Mick is here and there is respect for the manager again. He tells you straight what he wants you to do. And people do it. He's better than the previous pair.

"Peter Reid had a similar style to Mick but maybe didn't have as much respect from the players.

"As for Wilkinson, well that's another story. I found the man a bit strange. He just went too much into the technical side of things, making the game more complicated than it actually is.

"There were meetings and discussions but when a team is struggling, they need things simplified. That wasn't happening.

"One time he brought us into a room and told us we were about to watch a video of the greatest team in the world.

"We expected Brazil. What we got was a wildlife documentary of geese flying through the sky. 'Look how they support one another,' Wilkinson said. 'Apply that to the pitch'."

Unfortunately his players ended up looking more like headless chickens on the pitch - but at least there was one way their tactics resembled those of the geese.

The route-one game favoured by Wilko, saw the ball fly through the air as often as his beloved birds.

Suddenly the comparisons with Duff seemed premature - even though at the time they were made, thay had some logic.

In contrast to his team's early season Premiership stutters Butler's start was blistering and promotion to the Ireland squad suggested a bright future.

His international debut, and a sound performance in the 3-0 win against Finland in Helsinki only encouraged talk that Butler was the next-big-thing.

Yet within two months the script had changed. Butler was injured and Sunderland were losing.

In his absence, another Irish kid, Sean Thornton, inherited Butler's place in the Sunderland side as well as his 'one for the future' label. Not that he cares.

"I would prefer to talk at the end of this season about how well I have done, rather than talk about what I'm going to do," said Butler.

"The past has been frustrating. I've gone into the last two seasons with high hopes, speaking about how I intend to make the breakthrough.

"Then I've picked up injuries and gone back to square one."

But hopefully all that's in the past and the present will be healthier. Certainly McCarthy believes in him, as outlined by the fact Butler has started Sunderland's last eight games.

On Tuesday he came off with an ankle injury, but it shouldn't stop him reclaiming his place against Walsall tomorrow.

Keeping an eye on his progress is Brian Kerr, a regular visitor to the Stadium of Light this season, and a man fully aware his team needs creativity.

McCarthy prefers using him on the left - although his natural habitat is out right - where he can alternate between cutting infield or attacking along the sideline.

"Where I play is of little relevance," he says. "What matters most is that I've been able to find my rhythm this season, to be able to play with confidence.

"I'm enjoying the game again. Mick has to take a lot of credit for that. The fact that he capped me twice made me realise I had a manager who rated me."

CAPTION(S):

WHAT THE BUTLER SAW: Thomas Butler says Howard Wilkinson showed videos of geese flying to improve Sunderland\'s tactics; STRANGE TACTICS: Howard Wilkinson