S'land Midfield Concerns - Ipswich Town News

Sunderland have a number of midfield players unavailable tonight for their clash with Town at the Stadium of Light (KO 8pm).

With stand-in skipper Paul Thirlwell struggling with a calf injury and Sean Thornton suspended after being sent off at Stoke, Jeff Whitley and Colin Healy are set to form the centre of the midfield.

Manager Mick McCarthy says that despite having a long list of midfielders he is running out of options: "Considering we seemed to have loads of numbers in that department, we're a bit stretched, but I'll have Jeff Whitley and Grant Leadbitter in the squad."

In addition to Thirlwell and Thornton the Black Cats are also without captain Jason McAteer (hamstring), full-back Stephen Wright (calf) and midfielder Matt Piper (knee).

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