Defensive duo in Sunderland squad

Sunderland new boys Calum Davenport and Tal Ben Haim will be included in the squad for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash with Stoke.

The on-loan pair are available for selection with Anton Ferdinand battling a hip problem and Paul McShane and Nyron Nosworthy both out with hamstring injuries, while George McCartney is feeling the effects of three successive starts since his return from foot surgery.

Manager Ricky Sbragia is hoping Djibril Cisse (ankle) and Kenwyne Jones (knee) will be fit while midfielder Carlos Edwards has a slight hamstring niggle. Teemu Tainio should be available after missing the last two games with a knee problem.

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