Black Cats wait for Jones

Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones will be given until the last minute to prove his fitness ahead of tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash with Birmingham.

The Trinidad and Tobago international, who limped off at half-time against Manchester City last Sunday, has a chance of being involved after scans revealed no lasting damage to his hip flexor.

Andy Reid and Lee Cattermole (both hamstring) could also make it back into the squad, while the Black Cats will continue to monitor Boudewijn Zenden’s knee problem.

Captain Lorik Cana will be missing again as he completes a two-match ban.

Provisional squad: Gordon, Fulop, Bardsley, Hutton, Turner, Ferdinand, Mensah, Kilgallon, Da Silva, Cattermole, Zenden, Richardson, Malbranque, Henderson, Campbell, Reid, Bent, Jones, Benjani, Meyler, Liddle, Noble.