Ankle agony for McCann

Sunderland midfielder Gavin McCann is out of tomorrow night’s Premiership trip to Leeds with an ankle injury.

The England international has had his ankle put in plaster as a precaution after picking up an injury during Saturday’ 1-0 home defeat by Everton, but the club are hopeful that he could be fit for Manchester United’s visit to the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

New £3.5m (€5.5m) signing Matt Piper could get his first start for the club in McCann’s place, but Brazilian defender Emerson Thome is out for up to eight weeks after undergoing a third operation on his injured knee.

Provisional squad: Sorensen, Myhre, Macho, Wright, Gray, Williams, Babb, Bjorklund, McCartney, McAteer, Reyna, Butler, Piper, Arca, Kilbane, Phillips, Quinn, Kyle, Bellion.