Cunningham out for several weeks

Former Ireland international Kenny Cunningham has been sidelined for a number of weeks with a knee ligament problem.

The 35-year-old Sunderland defender picked up the injury on Saturday after returning from a hamstring strain that had kept him out of action for two games.

The full extent of the fresh damage is not known, but he is expected to be unable to play for several weeks.

Elsewhere, his fellow Irishman Stephen Elliott has resumed training at the Stadium of Light after recovering from an ankle injury that has kept him out of action since last month.