Sunderland Football Club News

• Nickname:Black Cats
• Founded:1879
• Manager:Martin O'Neill

• Ground:Stadium of light
• Capacity:48,353

Cats boosted by Richardson

29 Jan 2009 - 15:22:48

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Sunderland winger Kieran Richardson has been passed fit for Sunday's Tyne-Wear derby with Newcastle United.

The former Manchester United midfielder has missed the last three games with an ankle injury but has returned to full training this week and is ready to play, according to manager Ricky Sbragia.

Richardson scored the winner in a 2-1 victory for the Black Cats at the Stadium of Light earlier in the season

"Kieran is okay," Sbragia told the club's official website.

"He could have possibly played against Fulham (on Tuesday) but we wanted to give him a few more days training.

"He's training with the rest of the first-team now."

However, Sbragia has confirmed that defender Paul McShane will play no part against the Magpies after suffering a hamstring injury in the 1-0 win over Fulham.

"It was typical Paul McShane that though he'd hurt himself within a minute of coming on, he didn't look to come off. He stayed on and saw it through. That's what he's all about," he continued.

"He gives it 100 per cent. But the outcome is that the hamstring is a problem - it's a tweak rather than a tear - but he still looks like missing a week, probably two with it."