Bruce waits on Cattermole

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is keeping his fingers crossed over skipper Lee Cattermole and striker Danny Welbeck ahead of Sunday’s derby clash with Newcastle.

Cattermole was told he needed to rest a back injury for a month at the start of the new year, but Bruce has given him a 50-50 chance of making the game, while Welbeck, who was initially ruled out for three weeks with the hamstring problem he suffered at Aston Villa on January 5, is in a similar position.

Defender Nedum Onuoha should return from a hamstring injury and Bolo Zenden is available after suspension, but David Meyler is facing around 10 weeks on the sidelines after further damaging his cruciate ligament at Villa.

Michael Turner (knee) is out and John Mensah (ankle) is expected to be missing once again, while Fraizer Campbell (knee) continues his recovery.

Provisional squad: Gordon, Mignolet, Onuoha, Bardsley, Richardson, Angeleri, Ferdinand, Bramble, Da Silva, Cattermole, Zenden, Riveros, Henderson, Malbranque, Elmohamady, Reid, Colback, Bent, Gyan, Welbeck, Adams, Cook, Reed.