Wilkinson to give youth its chance

Sunderland boss Howard Wilkinson will send out his lads’ army for the Worthington Cup third round trip to Arsenal.

With injuries to senior first-team squad members Thomas Sorensen, Claudio Reyna, Jason McAteer, Julio Arca and Thomas Myhre, Wilkinson cannot afford any more mishaps in a game which pales into insignificance in comparison to the task of attempting to secure Premiership safety.

However, despite promising to blood a team full of fringe players and youngsters at Highbury on Wednesday night, he is confident that they will compete.

“It is vital to guarantee Sunderland’s status that we move away from the wrong end of the table as quickly as possible and that has to be my first priority,” he said.

“We have suffered a number of setbacks recently as a result of long-term injuries to some key first team players, and I can’t afford to risk this situation getting any worse.

“The Worthington Cup is an important competition with the winner guaranteed a place in Europe. We want to win the game but this year the Premiership has to come first.”

The Wearsiders took the decision to reveal their plans early to ensure that travelling fans did not get a shock when the teams are announced shortly before kick-off.

“The Sunderland fans have been fantastic and their support is very, very important to us,” said Wilkinson.

“I wanted to be sure that they are aware of this decision and why I have made it well before the game on Wednesday.”

Senior squad members George McCartney, Stefan Schwarz, Kevin Kyle, Darren Williams and Matt Piper are likely to be among the beneficiaries, although young keeper Craig Turns – effectively fifth choice behind Sorensen, Myhre, Jurgen Macho and the cup-tied Michael Ingham – will certainly be in the 16.

Full-back Mark Rossiter could also be involved while striker Michael Proctor, who scored four times in 11 games on loan at Bradford, may be given his chance.

“It’s a good opportunity for some of them – Kevin Kyle, Matt Piper, people like that,” said Wilkinson.

“They’ll want to show what they’re made of, and rightly so.

“We’ve got youngsters here who really want to be getting a show. The bench will probably resemble a creche.”