More worries for boss

Midfield man O'Brien, playing at left-back against Sunderland, fell awkwardly and was taken off with a groin problem and will not be in contention for tomorrow's game with Preston North End at Hillsborough – he will miss around six weeks.

Unlucky Hills meanwhile will have to see a specialist regarding his problem calf muscle which has showed no signs of healing so Tommy Spurr is set to continue at left-back although his place will be put under pressure when a fit-again Peter Gilbert returns from a loan spell at Doncaster.

Richard Wood could come back to the squad although Laws may be wary of playing him so the youngster does not get a reoccurrence of an ankle problem.

But most likely the back four will stay the same as Graham Coughlan is still not ready for football after having major dental surgery following a collision with Mark Crossley in the ill-facted Black Cats defeat.

Mark Beevers is set to make his home debut after an assured performance at Southampton on Wednesday night while Laws could freshen things up in attack by giving Leon Clarke his first start.