No Bendtner for Black Cats

Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill will be without striker Nicklas Bendtner for Sunday’s FA Cup fourth-round clash with derby rivals Middlesbrough.

The Denmark international suffered a broken nose and other facial injuries during last weekend’s 2-0 Premier League victory over Swansea and is likely to be missing until the middle of February.

However, fellow frontman Fraizer Campbell is in contention after another appearance for the reserves on his return from a second serious knee injury, while midfielder Jack Colback was expected to resume training today following his recovery from an ankle problem.

Provisional squad: Mignolet, Westwood, Bardsley, O’Shea, Brown, Bramble, Turner, Cattermole, Richardson, Gardner, Vaughan, Larsson, Elmohamady, McClean, Meyler, Colback, Sessegnon, Wickham, Ji, Campbell.