Sunderland midfielder Kieran Richardson is out for three weeks with a hamstring injury.  The former Manchester United man suffered the injury in training and missed the defeat to Tottenham on Saturday.

It is a new blow for the 23-year-old, who scored three goals in five games following his return from a back injury in December.

Sunderland manager Roy Keane said: "Kieran will be out for about three weeks, he has damaged his hamstring but that's life and you have to get on with the challenge."