O'Neill ponders injury headaches ahead of first game as Sunderland boss

New Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill has several injury concerns ahead of his opening game against fellow Premier League strugglers Blackburn at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.

Striker Nicklas Bendtner has not trained all week because of a groin problem while defender Phil Bardsley has suffered a recurrence of an ankle injury, but O’Neill is hopeful both will be available.

Midfielder Lee Cattermole misses out through suspension after picking up five yellow cards along with striker Connor Wickham (knee) and goalkeepers Simon Mignolet (fractured nose and eye socket) and Craig Gordon (knee).

Provisional squad: Westwood, Carson, Brown, Bardsley, Richardson, Turner, Laing, Gardner, Vaughan, Larsson, Colback, Elmohamady, Meyler, Sessegnon, Bendtner, Ji, McClean, Cook, Egan, Noble, Bramble.