Tainio doubt for Sunderland

Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia could be without midfielder Teemu Tainio for Sunday’s derby trip to Newcastle.

The Finn picked up a knee injury in Tuesday night’s 1-0 Barclays Premier League win over Fulham and is a major doubt, while defender Paul McShane is out with a hamstring problem.

But George McCartney should be fit after leaving the pitch with sore calves in midweek as he continued his comeback from a long injury lay-off, while Kieran Richardson, who scored the winner in the Wear-Tyne derby in October, has recovered from his ankle injury.

Keeper Craig Gordon is back in training following his long-term absence with an ankle problem, but is likely only to make the bench at best.

Provisional squad: Fulop, Gordon, Colgan, Bardsley, McCartney, Ferdinand, Collins, Whitehead, Malbranque, Leadbitter, Tainio, Richardson, Edwards, Yorke, Reid, Cisse, Jones, Murphy, Healy, Chopra.