Premiership: Double boost for Sunderland

Sunderland duo Niall Quinn and Alex Rae have handed manager Peter Reid a fitness boost by proving themselves ready to take their place in the squad for tomorrow’s Premiership opener at home to Ipswich.

Quinn has shaken off the ankle injury which kept him out of the Republic of Ireland’s friendly clash with Croatia on Wednesday night, while Rae has impressed his boss in two reserve-team fixtures since returning from knee surgery.