Jack not appealing Loovens’ red card
Sunderland will be without Glenn Loovens for the visit of Bradford City through injury and suspension.
Jack Ross decided against appealingLoovens’redcardat Portsmouth because the defender had also injured himself in the process of fouling Oli Hawkins for a penalty and now faces a couple of weeks out.
With Tom Flanagan also a doubt, Alim Ozturk is expected to come into central defence and partner Jack Baldwin for the League One clash (KO 3pm).
Ross had questioned the decision to send Loovens off at Fratton Park and felt it fell into something of a ‘grey area’ within the laws of the game. He will serve a one game ban.
“Glenn actually injured himself in the challenge anyway so will be out for a couple of weeks,” Ross admitted. “It means it [an appeal] becomes an irrelevance.
“I had a good conversation with the match officials after the game, after I had spoken to the press, because I had to wait half an hour to see them.
“We had a sensible conversation and I do think it’s one of those that falls into a little bit of a grey area, because the changes to the [double jeopardy] rule - they’re clear in some respects but this challenge probably falls in-between somewhere.
“I don’t think Glenn makes a clean attempt to win the ball, but I don’t think he makes a clear attempt to stop them reaching the ball.
“I can understand why it was given, but I also think the match officials should understand why there might be a case to put forward for it not being a red card. But it’s irrelevant. It’s given as a red card and we have to play the half with a man short.”
Flanagan was expected to train ahead of the game but Ross wanted to see how he reacted, while Adam Matthews remains a doubt with a calf injury.
Top scorer Josh Maja, who didn’t make it off the bench against Portsmouth, has also been suffering from illness and will be assessed.
Skipper George Honeyman is also a doubt with an ankle knock, he was subbed after an hour at Fratton Park.
Duncan Watmore started at Portsmouth but is still being eased back into regular first team football. Ross has said he has to be sensible with his team selections over a busy festive period.