SUNDERLAND keeper Craig Gordon is targeting derby joy this weekend as his side goes in search of a first away win of the season.

Sunderland boss Roy Keane has released former Republic of Ireland team-mate Kenny Cunningham as he prepares for life in the Premiership.

ROY KEANE has warned Sunderland’s missing miscreants that he won’t be messed about.

Sunderland have accepted bids for strikers Jon Stead and Chris Brown from unnamed clubs.

SUNDERLAND have given Jon Stead permission to speak with other clubs about a loan move away from the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland’s players returned for pre-season training today with the club’s future still to be decided.

Aston Villa 2 Sunderland 1

Sunderland 2 Fulham 1

Matthew Taylor drove home an 88th-minute penalty after Sunderland striker Kevin Kyle handled in the area to help Portsmouth climb out of the Premiership relegation zone.

ALAN SHEARER has absolved Julio Arca of any blame for the injury which may have brought his career to a premature conclusion.

Alan Shearer has absolved Julio Arca of any blame for the injury that may have brought his career to a premature conclusion.

Sunderland midfielder Julio Arca is facing a fight to be fit for Saturday’s Premiership clash at Everton.

Tommy Miller is available to return to Sunderland’s midfield for Sunday’s match against Manchester City at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Rory Delap could make his Sunderland debut at Birmingham after shaking off an Achilles problem.

Sunderland 0 Middlesbrough 3

Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy is hopeful of adding Switzerland international midfielder Ricardo Cabanas to his squad during the transfer window.

Sunderland 1 Fulham 2

Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy will retain the team which drew 0-0 with Bolton on Boxing Day as he looks for a first Barclays Premiership victory of the season at the Stadium of Light against Everton.

Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy is hoping for a triple injury boost as he prepares for the St Stephen's Day clash with Bolton.

Midfielder Julio Arca returns to the Sunderland squad for tomorrow’s Barclays Premiership trip to Charlton after more than two months on the sidelines with a fractured toe.

England striker Jermain Defoe was again included among the Tottenham substitutes for the Barclays Premiership clash with Sunderland at White Hart Lane.

Sunderland 0 Liverpool 2

Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy dropped under-fire keeper Kelvin Davis for the visit to Highbury, replacing him with teenager Ben Alnwick for his Barclays Premiership debut.

Sunderland 1 West Ham 1

Middlesbrough 0 Sunderland 2

Middlesbrough 0 Sunderland 2

Mick McCarthy will make late checks on five players before he finalises his team for Sunday’s derby clash with Middlesbrough.

DAVID O’LEARY’S striking options could receive a double boost heading into Aston Villa’s Premiership trip to Portsmouth tonight (7.45pm).

Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy handed debuts to four of his 10 summer signings as the Black Cats returned to the Premiership against Charlton at the Stadium of Light today.

Former Everton centre-back Alan Stubbs has become Sunderland’s seventh signing of the summer after agreeing a 12-month deal with the option of an extra year at the Stadium of Light.

SUNDERLAND boss Mick McCarthy will urge his team to match the hardiness demonstrated by the Republic of Ireland in their World Cup campaigns as they aim for Premiership survival.

SUNDERLAND will complete the signing of Ipswich midfielder Tommy Miller next Wednesday after he turned down more money to sign for the club he supported as a boy.

Sunderland are closing in on midfield target Tommy Miller after agreeing terms for his switch from Ipswich to the Stadium of Light.

West Ham 2 Ipswich 1

Sunderland moved five points clear at the top of the Coca-Cola Championship after a thrilling second-half comeback to win 3-1 against QPR.

IPSWICH missed a great opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the Coca-Cola Championship as Watford claimed an unexpected 2-1 win at Portman Road.

El-Hadji Diouf let his football do the talking after he came off the bench to inspire Bolton’s FA Cup third-round win over Coca-Cola Championship leaders Ipswich at Portman Road.

Reading wasted the chance to gain ground on Coca-Cola Championship leaders Wigan, losing 3-2 at Coventry.

Ipswich 2 Millwall 0

Coca-Cola Championship leaders Wigan continued their pace-setting start to the season as as Nathan Ellington and Jason Roberts fired them to a 2-1 win over Cardiff.

Coca-Cola Championship leaders Wigan crashed out of the Carling Cup tonight with a 1-0 defeat at Grimsby.

Millwall ended Leicester’s unbeaten start in the Coca-Cola Championship with a 2-0 win at The Den today.