McCartney back to help Black Cats

Sunderland full-back George McCartney could return to the squad for the club’s vital Barclays Premier League trip to Portsmouth on Monday evening.

The 28-year-old Northern Ireland international has missed the last six games with a calf injury, but has a week’s full training under his belt and could come into contention.

Kenwyne Jones and Kieran Richardson (both ankle), and Teemu Tainio (knee), are all expected to shake off minor knocks, but Craig Gordon (knee) and Nyron Nosworthy (hamstring) will not play again this season.

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