Wickham out for Sunderland

Sunderland striker Connor Wickham is unlikely to make the St Stephen's Day clash with Everton despite receiving better news of his injured knee.

The teenager missed the 3-2 Premier League victory at QPR with swelling in the knee he initially damaged at Manchester United on November 5, but was encouraged by what he was told by his specialist, although he may not be ready for Monday’s game.

Striker Fraizer Campbell (knee) played 75 minutes of a practice match this morning, but is still short of match fitness, as is goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who is also recovering from a knee problem.

Provisional squad: Westwood, Carson, O’Shea, Bardsley, Brown, Bramble, Turner, Laing, Cattermole, Richardson, Gardner, Vaughan, Larsson, Colback, Elmohamady, McClean, Meyler, Sessegnon, Bendtner, Wickham, Ji, R Noble.