Keane has injury problems

Sunderland boss Roy Keane is facing a major test of his squad for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League visit of Reading to the Stadium of Light.

Midfielder Kieran Richardson is out for up to three months with a stress fracture of the back, while striker Andrew Cole (calf) has joined winger Carlos Edwards (hamstring), skipper Dean Whitehead and defender Stanislav Varga (both knee) on the casualty list.

New signings Kenwyne Jones and Russell Anderson are expected to shake off calf problems and Danny Collins (ankle) should also be fit, while Greg Halford returns from suspension.

Provisional squad: Gordon, Ward, Nosworthy, Halford, Kay, McShane, Anderson, Higginbotham, Collins, Wallace, Etuhu, Yorke, Miller, Leadbitter, Chopra, Jones, Stokes, Murphy, Connolly, O’Donovan.