6:04pm Friday 21st November 2008
SUNDERLAND: Fulop, Bardsley, Ferdinand, Nosworthy, Collins, Tainio, Whitehead, Richardson, Malbranque, Cisse, Jones
WEST HAM: Green, Ilunga, Collins, Upson, Neill, Behrami, Parker, Collison, Sears, Cole, Bellamy
Sunderland subs (from): Colgan, Diouf, Reid,Leadbitter,Yorke, Murphy, Henderson,Healy, Edwards
West Ham subs (from): Lastuvka, Davenport, Bowyer, Di Michele.
Mullins,Spector, Etherington, Faubert
SUNDERLAND: Roy Keane will hope Kenwyne Jones returns unscathed from international duty and will be grateful that Sunday's kick-off gives his players an extra day to recover. Carlos Edwards' recall from loan at Wolves offers an option on the right wing. Goalkeeper Craig Gordon remains a doubt with an ankle injury while former Hammer George McCartney is rated as 50-50.
Suspensions: none
Injuries: Gordon (ankle), Ward (ankle), McCartney (foot)
Leading league scorer: Cisse 5
Last five league games: WLLLW
Next game:v Bolton 29/11/08
WEST HAM: Manager Gianfanco Zola will put Diego Tristan through a fitness test before Sunday's game after the Spanish striker picking up a knock in training. Jonathan Spector has recovered from hip surgery and may be ready to return to the squad while Herita Ilunga has been declared fit after his ankle injury. Mark Noble's calf injury makes him a major doubt.
Suspensions:none
Injuries: Noble(calf), Gabbidon (groin), Ashton (ankle), Dyer (leg)
Leading league scorer: Cole 3
Last five league games: DLDLL
Key player: Matthew Upson - proved for England in midweek that he's become an accomplished centre-back
Last season: 2-1
League head to head: Sunderland 26 wins, West Ham 23, Draw 17
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral) Games 14, Y59, R7, Av 4.71
Last Sunderland game: v Spurs (A) 23/08/08 1-2 W Y3 R0
Odds: H6/5,A11/4, D5/2
It's a fact: This season, West Ham have lost every time they've conceded the opening goal
Comment by ANDY RICHARDSON: With Zola overseeing a seven game winless run for the Hammers, Roy Keane will be hoping his players register their first back-to-back Premier League victories since April.
Prediction: 2-0
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