Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy is keeping his fingers crossed over influential defender Gary Breen after the initial results of a scan suggested that his knee injury is not serious.
The 29-year-old Republic of Ireland international was sent for tests yesterday after damaging his knee in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Coventry at the Stadium of Light. However, while he will miss the international friendly against Canada next week, the Black Cats are hopeful that the problem is not as bad as was first feared after seeing the initial results.
Breen could even make his side's Division One game at Crewe on November 22nd to extend a run of 10 successive starts after shaking off an earlier injury.
The Irishman, who arrived on Wearside on a free transfer during the summer, has proved a cornerstone of his side's encouraging start to the season and has formed a solid partnership with George McCartney as McCarthy's men have embarked upon a run of 11 league games during which they have lost just once.
Meanwhile, skipper Jason McAteer is back in training after shaking off his second hamstring injury this season. The 32-year-old has not started a game since the 2-1 win over Crystal Palace on September 13 - just his second appearance of the season - and played only nine league games during the last campaign because of a succession of injuries.