Di Canio faces dauting trip to the Bridge

Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio faces the daunting task of a trip to Chelsea with a threadbare squad in his first Barclays Premier League match in charge.

Di Canio, who replaced Martin O’Neill on Sunday and has since been at the centre of a media storm over his political beliefs, has doubts over midfielder David Vaughan (groin) and defender Carlos Cuellar (ankle).

Captain Lee Cattermole (knee surgery) and striker Steven Fletcher (ankle ligaments) will both miss the rest of the season but there is some hope for long-term absentee Wes Brown (knee), who is continuing to train without suffering a relapse.

Provisional squad: Mignolet, Westwood, Bardsley, Rose, O’Shea, Kilgallon, Bramble, Mangane, N’Diaye, Gardner, Colback, McClean, Larsson, Johnson, Vaughan, Sessegnon, Graham, Wickham.