Source: SKY_Sports
Sunderland v West Ham preview
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} Sunderland will be aiming to bounce back from their defeat at St Andrews last week as they host West Ham on Saturday, and they may have to do so without Darren Bent.[LNB] The Black Cats failed to build on their controversial 1-0 win over Liverpool earlier this month by going down 2-1 to Birmingham last weekend, followed by a midweek Carling Cup exit to Aston Villa.[LNB]The Hammers, meanwhile, will be buoyed by their second-half showing at home to Arsenal last weekend after they pulled back a two-goal deficit to earn a point at Upton Park.[LNB]Gianfranco Zola's men have been struggling for form this season and remain in the relegation zone, but the 2-2 draw with Arsenal may act as a springboard to set their season alight.[LNB]Both sides have injury worries ahead of the Stadium of Light encounter, with the home side sweating over the fitness of striker Bent, the league's joint-second top goalscorer.[LNB]The former Tottenham striker is facing a race to be fit for the visit of West Ham, as he battles to overcome a knee problem.[LNB]Bent missed Tuesday's Carling Cup penalty shoot-out defeat to Villa but is rated as better than 50-50 for Saturday's clash, after returning to training on Thursday.[LNB]Fellow striker Fraizer Campbell is also a doubt after suffering a knock against Villa, while Phil Bardsley (shoulder) and George McCartney (hip) are also touch-and-go. [LNB]New signing Bolo Zenden and centre-back John Mensah are ruled out while Lee Cattermole is a long-term absentee with knee ligament damage.[LNB]West Ham newsAlessandro Diamanti is in line for a start after his inspirational impact from the bench against the Gunners.[LNB]The Italian scored the equaliser from the spot after playing a helping hand in Carlton Cole's goal earlier in the game, and Guillermo Franco could lose his starting place as a result.[LNB]Diamanti can expect to partner in-from Cole up front with the England international grabbing 5 goals from 9 starts this term.[LNB]Captain Scott Parker will miss the clash through suspension after seeing red against Arsene Wenger's men courtesy of a second bookable offence.[LNB]Zola must continue without injured trio Kieron Dyer (hamstring), Luis Boa Morte (knee) and long-term absentee Dean Ashton (ankle).[LNB]Possible starting XIsSunderland: Gordon, Bardsley, Ferdinand, Turner, Richardson, Malbranque, Cana, Henderson, Reid, Bent, Jones.[LNB]West Ham: Green, Spector, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga, Behrami, Kovac, Noble, Collison, Cole, Diamanti.[LNB]
