Georges Santos and Darren Bent are both out of Saturday's home fourth round FA Cup tie against Sunderland with ankle injuries. Better news for Town is that Jim Magilton and Chris Bart-Williams have both trained and John McGreal expects to be fit.

Magilton had been suffering with a leg injury while Bart-Williams and McGreal have both had back problems. McGreal hasn't trained since early in the week but is likely to be OK to line-up against the Black Cats. Drissa Diallo is regaining full fitness and will deputise should McGreal not make it.

Santos picked up his injury in training and is out for two weeks while Darren Bent's ankle injury is not considered too serious and will probably be out for a similar period.

Full-back Chris Makin is running after his thigh operation but is still some way from fitness and won't be involved in any ballwork for two to three weeks.

Second string keeper Lewis Price returned to training on Thursday after his finger ligament injury and could be back on the first team bench next week. Andy Marshall will be Town's sub keeper on Saturday.

Full-back Fabian Wilnis will return to the side after missing last week's 6-4 victory over Crewe due to a one-match suspension.

Town boss Joe Royle says he is looking for a rare Town cup run: “There's a good number of all-Premiership games and there's a chance for us to have a good cup run. I'd really like to, but the league is the priority. I'll see who is fit tomorrow and I still make take the chance to change one or two, as we did in the last round.”

Royle, the last English manager to win the FA Cup, says the financial side is also important to the club: “We've had a good share issue, which has been successful, we've had our debentures, we've had the loan stock last year and the club is ahead of schedule financially. But we're still not flush.”

The Black Cats are one point ahead of Town in the First Division and the Town boss says they have been in decent form of late: “They're having a good run at the moment despite last week's defeat after five wins.

”They are a very strong physical side, they beat us up there, although I was disappointed we didn't get at least a point, and we have a chance to put that right.

“It's an important game for us. If you gave me the choice between three points and a cup game I know which I'd take, but we'll be greedy and go for both.”

Sunderland are without former Town striker Marcus Stewart as he is suspended after reaching five bookings. Wolves have not given loanee Kevin Cooper permission to play in the cup, while Paul Thirlwell broke his nose in the reserves on Wednesday and is expected to miss out.

Saturday's referee is Premiership official Mike Riley. So far this season he has booked 68 players and sent off five in 21 games. He last refereed Town in the 2-2 draw with Newcastle United at St James' Park in March 2002.

Likely squad: Davis, Marshall, Wilnis, Richards, McGreal, Naylor, Diallo, Bart-Williams, Magilton, Wright, Miller, Reuser, Westlake, Kuqi, Couñago, Bowditch.

Photo: Action Images

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