Keane to do without Collins

Sunderland boss Roy Keane will be without suspended defender Danny Collins for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League trip to Derby.

The Welshman picked up his fifth booking of the season at Portsmouth last weekend, and his place could be taken by Danny Higginbotham, who is back in contention after surgery to repair a toe fracture.

Keane has hinted that midfielder Liam Miller could still have a role to play despite being transfer-listed this week because of poor time-keeping, while Kieran Richardson is rated at 50-50 as he continues his recovery from a hamstring problem.

However, Carlos Edwards (broken leg) is yet to return to reserve-team action and Ross Wallace (knee) remains on the sidelines.

Provisional squad: Gordon, Fulop, Bardsley, McShane, Evans, Higginbotham, Harte, Whitehead, Etuhu, Reid, Leadbitter, Miller, Richardson, O’Donovan, Jones, Waghorn, Murphy, Stokes, Chopra, Prica.