McCartney back for Black Cats

Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy hopes to have Northern Ireland defender George McCartney available again for tomorrow’s Barclays Premiership trip to Blackburn.

McCartney missed Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham with a hip problem after returning from a long injury lay-off at West Ham, and he will be joined in the squad by Steve Caldwell, Stephen Wright and Dean Whitehead, who were all suspended at the weekend.