Westwood touch and go
Sunderland keeper Keiren Westwood is rated as 50-50 for Wednesday night's Capital One Cup fourth round clash with Southampton.
The Republic of Ireland international took a blow to the head during Saturday's 1-0 Barclays Premier League defeat by Hull and Vito Mannone, who replaced him at the KC Stadium, is standing by to take over against the Saints.
Midfielder Lee Cattermole and full-back Andrea Dossena both start three-match bans after being sent off in an eventful encounter with the Tigers, but manager Gus Poyet otherwise has no selection problems.
While top-flight survival is the overwhelming priority, Poyet is relishing the encounter with Southampton, English football's latest surprise package.
He said: "They have done very well. They have kept the core of the team. They have added two or three players who are performing at great levels, so they area very strong team.
"They are the biggest surprise so far, but it's totally deserved because they play a football which is quite brave and very aggressive, especially pressing at the beginning of the game, so there are plenty of things we need to do right to win this tie."
Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino is likely to change his side.
A home clash with Chelsea awaits the winners of the delayed encounter for which club captain and goalkeeper Kelvin Davis - a former Sunderland player - is expected to come in, along with Jack Cork and Gaston Ramirez.
All three started as Pochettino made 11 changes for the 2-0 win against Bristol City in the third round. Guly do Prado is unlikely to make the trip to the Stadium of Light due to a knee injury, but Steven Davis may start after returning from a knock.
Davis is relishing the chance to help keep Saints' fine form going.
"We're looking to progress and we know that going to Sunderland, certainly in the position they're in at the minute, will be no easy game," he told Saints Player.
"They're certainly looking for a win and they're going to be determined to get the win in any competition, so it's going to be a tough game.
"The fact that the winners will play Chelsea - at this stage - doesn't mean anything.
"We're a determined bunch and we've probably surprised outside of the club along the way this season.
"We're looking to enhance the position that we're in and progress in every competition.
"If you're going to build a team and a club that's going to be successful then that's got to be our mentality.
"We've certainly had that over the last few seasons and we want to continue it."
Source: PA
