Sunderland have a major keeper concern ahead of Sunday's live Sky game with Town at Portman Road (KO midday). Thomas Mhyre was replaced with a side injury during the Black Cats' defeat by Reading on Saturday and is a doubt for the trip to Portman Road.

Club physio Pete Friar says they are working on getting the former Everton stopper available for Sunday: "Thomas strained a muscle in his side as he caught a cross at full stretch.

"He is understandably sore at present but we are doing everything we can to try and get him fit for the weekend."

If Myhre doesn't make it, manager Mick McCarthy has no experienced cover available with first choice Mart Poom out of action since October and still unfit.

England U18 international Ben Alnwick has been a regular on the bench this season but has not yet made a senior appearance.

Alnwick was unavailable last weekend due to a family bereavement and Michael Ingham took over from the injured Myhre at half-time.

Ingham, who has already been told he will be released at the end of the season, is more experienced than Alnwick, making his league debut for the Black Cats in the Reading match and having previously played for them in the League Cup.

The 24-year-old has also had loan spells at Carlisle, Coleraine, Stoke, Stockport, Darlington, York, Wrexham and Doncaster.

Meanwhile, former Blue Marcus Stewart has said he hopes both his old side and his current team will be in the Premiership next season: "I'm still hoping it is Ipswich that goes up with us, although when we have already gone up.

"This game was always going to be important for both teams but after their result on Monday it is probably paramount for Ipswich to get a result on Sunday, more so than for ourselves.

"If we can win the next two games then that is us up and I sincerely hope that Ipswich come up with us. They have so many good young players who deserve to be in the Premiership."

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls