Black Cats light in midfield

Sunderland are desperately short of players in central midfield for Monday's home game with Manchester City.

Manager Howard Wilkinson was already without long-term injury casualties Claudio Reyna, Jason McAteer, Matt Piper and Julio Arca before Gavin McCann was suspended.

Kevin Kilbane has made a successful switch from a wide position and will partner Paul Thirlwell, while David Bellion is expected to return to the starting line-up in a more attacking formation.