Late check on Diouf

Caretaker Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia will make a late check on striker El-Hadji Diouf before he names his squad for the St Stephen's Day clash with Blackburn.

The Senegal international has just returned to training after being given a week’s leave to be with his wife as she gave birth, and his fitness levels will be assessed ahead of the game.

Sbragia otherwise has no fresh selection problems as his side looks for a third successive Barclays Premier League win.

Keeper Craig Gordon has begun rehabilitation after his ankle injury, while full-back George McCartney is due back at the club next week following surgery on both feet.

Provisional squad: Fulop, Colgan, Bardsley, Chimbonda, Ferdinand, Nosworthy, Collins, Malbranque, Whitehead, Richardson, Tainio, Leadbitter, Edwards, Miller, Yorke, Reid, Henderson, Colback, Diouf, Cisse, Jones, Murphy, Healy.