CARLTON FAIRWEATHER hopes his Sunderland side can take full advantage of England’s success in the World Cup when the Women’s Super League kicks off again this weekend.

Although they had no representatives for England in Canada, Steph Houghton, Jill Scott, Lucy Bronze and Carly Telford all started their careers at Sunderland and Fairweather is expecting a large crowd at the Hetton Centre when the Lady Black Cats face Notts County on Sunday.

Telford, who left Sunderland in 2007 to join Leeds Carnegie, is Notts County’s first-choice goalkeeper with England counterpart Laura Bassett, who scored an own goal in the semi-final against Japan to send the Lionesses out of the tournament, and both should feature in some capacity at Sunderland.

And Fairweather said: “There has been a massive increase in interest in women’s football with the success of the England team in the FIFA Women’s World Cup and we are hoping this will attract some new fans to Hetton. It would be fantastic to see a big crowd for our first game back.

“The players are ready and raring to get started again after the mid-season break. They have been working hard in training and everyone is really looking forward to the game.

“The break has given us an opportunity for players that are injured to return to full fitness, so in that respect it has been good for us.”

Sunderland signed Republic of Ireland striker Steph Roche during the mid-season break, and Fairweather has been impressed by the player who came to the world’s attention with a long-range volley that was nominated for the Puskas Award in last year’s Ballon D’Or ceremony.

“Steph has settled in really well,” said Fairweather. “She’s adapted really well to the training. The fact she has played out in the States where they train every day has been good for her, and the time where she’s been in with us has been great. She’s got on well with the girls too.”

Tickets for the game, which kicks off at 2pm, are available online at sunderland.fawsl.com/tickets, priced at £4 for adults and £2 from under 21s and over 65s.

Fans can pay on the day, with tickets priced at £5 for adults, £2.50 for under-21s and over-65s.

SAFC season card holders pay £3 and special family tickets are priced at £6 for an adult and child and £10 for two adults and two children.