Grayson hoping for Marc boost

Sunderland boss Simon Grayson hopes that his defensive options will be boosted for Saturday’s crunch game with Cardiff City, despite Marc Wilson missing the defeat to Everton with a groin problem.

The deadline day signing trained on Tuesday but was left out of last night’s 3-0 Carabao Cup defeat at Goodison Park as a precaution after suffering from a tight groin.

Grayson is hopeful it won’t keep him out of Saturday’s game at the Stadium of Light as Sunderland look to end a near 10-month winless run at home and kick-start their season.

With Tyias Browning and Brendan Galloway ineligible against their parent club, Wilson missing and Bryan Oviedo rested, Grayson fielded a makeshift defence.

Donald Love started at right-back, with Billy Jones partnering skipper Lamine Kone in the centre and Adam Matthews at left-back.

Grayson confirmed that he hopes to have Wilson available to face Cardiff, while club captain John O’Shea is also closing in on a return from a calf injury.

The Black Cats boss said: “Marc Wilson wasn’t available due to a groin problem he picked up at the weekend. He trained Tuesday and it just tightened up so we left him out as a precaution, but hopefully he will be back on Saturday and one or two others might be too.

“John O’Shea has done work this week, and we expect him to be back in training at the end of the week.

“We look ahead now to Cardiff, Ipswich and Preston. They are games we are looking forward to and hopefully put some points on the board for us.”

Grayson made six changes in total, with Callum McManaman, Jonny Williams and Robbin Ruiter among those first-team players rested.