Niall Quinn will play for Sunderland at Manchester United this afternoon with a plastercast on one hand having broken a bone against West Ham on Tuesday night. Quinn played the full 90 minutes against West Ham and did not gauge the extent of the injury, caused in an awkward fall, until Wednesday morning.

"It was a niggly thing really," said Quinn yesterday. "But the next morning it was swollen. It was decided that I better go and get it X-rayed. That showed the break. It's more of an inconvenience than a major problem, so I'll just try and forget about it and get on with the match."

Normally such injuries require around a fortnight's rest, but such is Sunderland's stuttering start to the season and as they are visiting the champions, Peter Reid is adamant that Quinn should play. Another awkward landing and both parties - and Mick McCarthy - may regret the decision.