O'Shea doubtful for Black Cats

Sunderland defender John O’Shea and striker Nicklas Bendtner are fighting to be fit for Sunday’s Barclays Premier League trip to Fulham.

Both men picked up foot injuries in training this week, but manager Martin O’Neill is hopeful they will make the game at Craven Cottage.

Midfielder Craig Gardner is available after serving a one-match ban and defender Titus Bramble (Achilles) is back in training but short of fitness, but full-back Kieran Richardson and midfielder Sebastian Larsson (both hernia surgery) are out for the remainder of the season.

Provisional squad: Mignolet, Gordon, Bardsley, Bridge, Turner, O’Shea, Kilgallon, Kyrgiakos, Lynch, McClean, Vaughan, Cattermole, Gardner, Meyler, Colback, Sessegnon, Bendtner, Ji, Campbell.