Bruce facing striker dilemma

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce will start life without leading scorer Darren Bent at Blackpool tomorrow.

The former Tottenham frontman’s £18m departure for Aston Villa earlier this week, coupled with Danny ’s knee surgery, has left Bruce with just one recognised striker, record signing Asamoah Gyan.

Welbeck is likely to be sidelined for six weeks after having a torn cartilage repaired, while skipper Lee Cattermole (back), Michael Turner, Fraizer Campbell and David Meyler (all knee) and John Mensah (ankle) are still out.

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