And while the Black Cats insist it is the long term rather than the remaining nine games of this campaign which represent the main focus, the newcomer, who has signed a rolling contract, knows he faces a major scrap to keep their heads above water.

“It’s a battle I’m looking forward to,” said McCarthy, whose Republic of Ireland right-hand man Ian Evans has joined him in the north-east. “If I didn’t think there was any chance, I’d be daft – mathematically, it’s still possible.

“I’ve had a few (mobile phone) texts that have suggested that I’m sailing a bit close to the wind on this challenge, but I think it’s still ‘do-able’ and whatever it is, I’ve got to believe that we can do it.

“We’ve got to start on Saturday. We’ve got clubs to play around us – Bolton and West Ham to start with. Who knows?

“I’ll be trying my damnedest and the players will be and, if we can do it, what a great achievement it will be.

“We might as well set a target, and that’s what we’re going to do. If we fall short of it, we’ll deal with that.

“But I’ve not come here for that, I’ve come here to attempt, with the players and everybody associated with the club, to keep us in the Premier League – and I can’t wait for it to start.”

MCarthy’s task will begin on Saturday when fourth-from-bottom Bolton head for Wearside for a game neither side can afford to lose and one which the hosts cannot really afford not to win.

They are currently seven points adrift of safety after a run of 20 Premiership games under Wilkinson which yielded only two wins and hastened his premature exit, along with assistant Steve Cotterill, on Monday evening.

Sunderland chairman Bob Murray – the only Premiership supremo so far this season to dismiss a manager, never mind two – was not at McCarthy’s unveiling because of illness, and it was left to vice-chairman John Fickling to explain the thinking behind the latest move.

“We’ve made this change now and we feel it’s in the best interests of the club and its supporters,” he said.

“It was important that we moved swiftly to secure the services of a manager who would undoubtedly have been pursued by several clubs during the summer months.

“We feel that by appointing Mick now, we’re giving him the opportunity get to know the players at the club and to form what hopefully will be a long-term development strategy for the summer and beyond.

“I would stress that this appointment is not about nine games for the rest of the season or our Premiership survival, albeit that’s very, very important indeed to the club.

“The decision clearly has been taken for the long term to halt the decline and revive the club’s fortunes.”