Sunderland centre back Titus Bramble looks to be needing surgery on a knee injury, which is a massive blow for the Black Cats as the defender has been solid in the heart of defence this season.

Sunderland have Anton Ferdinand and Paulo Da Silva that can come in, or another option could be for Nedum Onuoha to move across from right back and Argentinean international Marcos Angeleri to make his first team debut.

Sunderland are set to confirm the seriousness of Titus Brambles injury tomorrow.