Soccer: Black Cat Thornton desperate to play

SUNDERLAND midfielder Sean Thornton is desperate to put his injury misery behind him and help his club in the battle for promotion.

The 20-year-old Irishman has been sidelined for nine weeks with an ankle injury, a spell that has seen the Black Cats slip to the fringes of the race for a swift return to the Premiership.

However, he is now close to making his comeback and is confident that he can play a part in a concerted bid to climb into the top six.

"I'd like to think that results will pick up in the new year. We need to start turning draws into wins like we did against Wimbledon. I'm just desperate to get my teeth into it again."

The Wearsiders snatched a 2-1 victory over lowly Wimbledon on Saturday courtesy of substitute Michael Proctor's injury time strike, and a further home win over second-from-bottom Bradford on St Stephen's Day would set them up nicely.

Injuries and suspensions striker Kevin Kyle is facing a ban for his controversial dismissal against the Dons have not helped manager Mick McCarthy, and his resources will be stretched again this weekend.

Defender Gary Breen continues his battle against a knee injury and Colin Healy is out for the season with a broken leg, but Thornton's recovery will come as a boost.

Newcastle boss Bobby Robson has told Hugo Viana he has no chance of a loan move back to Portugal after discovering Lee Bowyer could be out for three months.

Bowyer's hip injury, which has kept him out of the last five matches, has not responded to treatment in the way Newcastle's medical staff hoped and surgery may be needed.

The news came as reports from Portugal suggested 20-year-old Viana, who cost the Magpies £8.5million two summers ago, is on the verge of completing a loan move back to Sporting Lisbon.

Robson revealed he had spent several hours with the Portugal international yesterday explaining why he cannot leave, but left him in little doubt about his immediate future.

Meanwhile, Robson also reacted angrily at reports that Celtic are lining up a £1.5million swoop for number two goalkeeper Steve Harper.

Blackburn midfielder Steven Reid has been ruled out of the match against Middlesbrough with a hamstring injury, and he could also miss the game with Newcastle as Rovers aim to get back to winning ways.