McCartney in - but Malbranque misses out

GEORGE McCartney has passed a late fitness test to take his place in the Sunderland side for today's home game with Portsmouth. McCartney has been struggling with a hamstring injury, but the Northern Irishman has been given the green light to feature at the Stadium of Light. That means Paulo Da Silve partners Michael Turner at centre-half, with Nyron Nosworthy lining up at right-back. Black Cats boss Steve Bruce has sprung a surprise in midfield, with Fraizer Campbell replacing Steed Malbranque on the right-hand side. SUNDERLAND (4-4-2): Fulop; Nosworthy, Da Silva, Turner, McCartney; Campbell, Cana, Henderson, Reid; Jones, Bent. Subs: Carson (gk), Anderson, Meyler, Malbranque, Murphy, Healy, Noble. PORTSMOUTH (4-5-1): James; Ben Haim, Wilson, Kaboul, Hreidarsson; Yebda, Brown, O'Hara, Hughes, Dindane; Kanu. Subs: Begovic (gk), Belladj, Finnan, Diop, Mokoena, Piquionne, Webber.

Source: Northern_Echo