Reid in contention for Sunderland start

Sunderland new boy Andy Reid could play a more substantial role in tomorrow’s Premier League trip to Portsmouth.

The 25-year-old midfielder, a £4m January acquisition from Charlton, has worked hard on his fitness in the two weeks since making his debut as a substitute in the 2-0 win over Wigan.

Grant Leadbitter too is in contention after his recovery from a broken toe and Dwight Yorke has shaken off a calf problem, but Liam Miller (calf), Kieran Richardson (hamstring), Danny Higginbotham (broken toe), Carlos Edwards (broken leg) and Ross Wallace (knee) remain on the sidelines.

Provisional squad: Gordon, Ward, Bardsley, McShane, Evans, Collins, Harte, Whitehead, Etuhu, Reid, Leadbitter, O’Donovan, Jones, Waghorn, Murphy, Stokes, Chopra, Prica.