Richardson ready to return against Liverpool

Sunderland midfielder Kieran Richardson could return to the squad for tomorrow’s Premier League trip to Liverpool after shaking off a hamstring problem.

The 23-year-old has missed the last two games through injury after scoring both goals in the 2-0 victory over Portsmouth on January 13.

However, Dwight Yorke is out with the calf injury he picked up in Tuesday night’s 2-0 win over Birmingham, while new £4m signing Andy Reid continues his recovery from a knee problem.

Michael Chopra returns from suspension, but Greg Halford and Graham Kavanagh have left the club on loan deals, Dickson Etuhu remains on African Nations Cup duty and Carlos Edwards (broken leg), Ross Wallace (knee ligaments) and Danny Higginbotham and Grant Leadbitter (both broken toe) are still out.

Provisional squad: Gordon, Ward, Fulop, Bardsley, McShane, Evans, Collins, Harte, Whitehead, Miller, O’Donovan, Richardson, Jones, Waghorn, Murphy, Stokes, Chopra, Prica.