SUNDERLAND v Portsmouth: Steve Bruce hopeful George McCartney wins fitness fight

Battler: McCartney is against time to be fit Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is keeping his fingers crossed over full-back George McCartney ahead of the Barclays Premier League clash with Portsmouth. The Northern Ireland international is battling against the hamstring strain which kept him out of last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Fulham amid a growing defensive crisis.Phil Bardsley and Kieran Richardson, who occupied the full-backberths at Craven Cottage, are both suspended, while Craig Gordon(broken arm), Anton Ferdinand (ankle), John Mensah (calf), LeeCattermole (medial ligament) and Bolo Zenden (hamstring) are all out. Brucewill be forced to use the depth of his squad and has drafted in18-year-old striker Ryan Noble after his FA Youth Cup hat-trick onMonday. Provisional squad:Fulop, Carson, McCartney, Da Silva, Turner, Nosworthy, Cana, Reid,Malbranque, Henderson, Campbell, Jones, Bent, Healy, Murphy, Meyler,Reed, Noble.CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE REST OF THE WEEKEND'S PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM NEWS  

Source: Daily_Mail