McCarthy to make changes

Sunderland are set to make several changes to the side beaten by rivals Newcastle for the third-round Carling Cup tie against Arsenal at the Stadium of Light tomorrow.

Manager Mick McCarthy plans to rest several key players ahead of Saturday’s game at home to Portsmouth, with Ben Alnwick expected to replace Kelvin Davis in goal and Danny Collins returning to central defence.

Carl Robinson will resume in midfield while £1.9million signing Jon Stead - who was not even on the bench at St James’ Park yesterday – could partner on-loan striker Anthony Le Tallec.

Justin Hoyte, who is on a season-long loan from Arsenal, has been given permission to play against the Gunners but not in the Barclays Premiership clash between the two clubs at Highbury on Saturday week.

Team (from): Alnwick, Davis, Nosworthy, Hoyte, Caldwell, D Collins, Breen, Stubbs, Lawrence, Whitehead, Robinson, Miller, Welsh, Gray, Le Tallec, Stead, Elliott, D Murphy, Woods.