Patrick Mboma is a major injury doubt for Sunderland ahead of their game at Arsenal.
The Cameroon international has a knee injury and did not train with the rest of Peter Reid’s squad this morning.
The injury caused Mboma, on loan from Serie A club Parma, to miss Cameroon’s World Cup warm-up game with Argentina in Zurich on Wednesday.
Black Cats boss Reid said: « Patrick has a problem with his knee and is a doubt. We’ll give him until the last minute. »
Niall Quinn is on stand-by for the fixture at his old club tomorrow should Mboma fail to shake off the injury.
« I get the feeling Niall is up for it, » added Reid. « He has benefitted from his rest and looks bright in training which is a bonus. »
Kevin Kilbane has recovered from the head injury which kept him out of Ireland’s win over Denmark on Wednesday.
Kevin Phillips will play against the Gunners, the club he supported as a boy, despite carrying a minor stomach strain.
Reid said: « I’m expecting a very difficult game – Arsenal have some great players. But having said that we proved we can compete against them by getting a draw there last year. »
Sunderland (from): Sorensen, Haas, McCartney, Craddock, Williams, Bjorklund, Gray, McAteer, Reyna, McCann, Schwarz, Kilbane, Thirlwell, Phillips, Mboma, Quinn, Kyle, Bellion.
