Premier League - Sbragia praying on Cisse fitness

Eurosport - Wed, 25 Feb 11:11:00 2009

Sunderland manager Ricky Sbragia is keeping his fingers crossed that striker Djibril Cisse will be fit for next week's trip to Liverpool.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Sunderland - Cisse - 0

The Black Cats head for Anfield next Tuesday defending a four-game unbeaten run in the Premier League which has lifted them eight points clear of the drop zone.

With no fixture this weekend because of Tottenham's involvement in the Carling Cup final, they are currently away on a warm-weather training camp in Jerez, Spain, where Cisse has been working his way back to fitness.

The 27-year-old Frenchman missed Saturday's creditable 0-0 draw at Arsenal with an ankle injury he picked up in training, but Sbragia has revealed he is making progress.

"It looks like Djib will be okay," said Sbragia.

"We won't take any risks, but he has done some running and he was fine."

This weekend's break has come at an opportune moment for the Wearsiders with Cisse's strike partner Kenwyne Jones also on the treatment table.

The 24-year-old Trinidad and Tobago international limped off at the Emirates Stadium with a knee problem.

Sbragia said: "Kenwyne has not trained since the game. We are nursing him through. We will have to see how he is later in the week."

Midfielders Steed Malbranque and Teemu Tainio have also missed training in Spain with knocks from the Arsenal game, but they are expected to make the trip to Liverpool.

However, defender Nyron Nosworthy has been forced to put his comeback on hold.

The 28-year-old tore a hamstring in the 2-1 home defeat by Aston Villa on January 17 and has missed the last six games.

He had hoped to play for the reserves in Tuesday night's clash with Wigan, but pulled out after feeling a twinge in training.

The second string managed a 1-1 draw at the Robin Park Arena despite having goalscorer Jordan Cook and left-back David Brown sent off - the home side's Andrew Pearson was also dismissed - while Martyn Waghorn missed a penalty, as did Wigan's Joe Holt.

TeamTalk / Eurosport

Comment 5 - 24 of 24

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  1. absolutely,well I've wasted enough time shooting­ the breeze with you lot,it's time to go hit the­ couch and watch the simpsons with the kids

    From jack torrance, on Fri 27 Feb 7:23PM

  2. jack. We both work hard for the respect we earn!­ Certain people on these sites need a sense of humour

    From Tony K, on Fri 27 Feb 7:19PM

  3. Think you should come over from the dark side and use­ the force for good instead of evil,come on Tony­ it's time to join the SAFC legions

    From jack torrance, on Fri 27 Feb 7:17PM

  4. petergrantwilson - I hope that isnt a double barrel­ surname coz anyone with one of those is definately a­ t.osser - If you waited 12 hours for my last reply you­ are as sad as i imagined you to be, what were you doing­ staring at the computer screen with your willy in your­ hand?

    From Tony K, on Fri 27 Feb 7:16PM

  5. Hi Tony see you've got your usual fan club­ here,think you have the same appeal as I have on the­ NUFC site.

    From jack torrance, on Fri 27 Feb 7:16PM

  6. HA!

    From Tony K, on Fri 27 Feb 7:10PM

  7. Hi Tony K(nobhead) its me, yeah downysyndrome100 the­ guy you gave the great nickname, your wit never fails­ to astound me & by the looks of the comments on­ this site everyone else too! Realisticly son your­ comments are getting rather repetitive & boring,­ time for you to go, along with your football team down­ to the nether regions of the football league.
    FTM

    From downy100, on Fri 27 Feb 6:30PM

  8. petergrantwilson. Well done, by using the words­­ proverbial literary and gargantuan you now sound­ really­ intelligent and have therefore redeemed­ yourself. What­ a w.anker.

    I've waited 12hrs for­ this drivel of a reply, you are one lonely­ individual-tell me did you cut and paste mine or spell­ check it-Mr intelligentsia.

    PS,Should'nt you be­ packing your weekend scouting bag, tell me how many­ bags of sweets did you purchase in anticipation out of­ your Giro this week.

    From PWilson, on Fri 27 Feb 1:37PM

  9. Thre's a bit fight left in him yet but his posts­ are becoming increasingly dispondant after each­ successive weekend's results.

    From jack torrance, on Fri 27 Feb 11:35AM

  10. Paul it's tough for the Mags to realise that­ there's a new top team in the NE give Tony some­ slack it's a difficult thing to come to terms with.

    From jack torrance, on Fri 27 Feb 11:34AM

  11. Tony don't knock w.anking as Woody Allen once said­­ "it's sex with someone you­ love"

    It's the only option for Tony k though­ Jack, so technically he's either extremely vain or­ extremely lonely or quite simply both. I definately­ suspect the latter from his embarrassing­ post.

    SUNDERLAND FOREVER.

    From Paul N, on Fri 27 Feb 10:45AM

  12. Tony don't knock w.anking as Woody Allen once said­ "it's sex with someone you love"

    From jack torrance, on Fri 27 Feb 8:43AM

  13. petergrantwilson. Well done, by using the words­ proverbial literary and gargantuan you now sound really­ intelligent and have therefore redeemed yourself. What­ a w.anker.

    From Tony K, on Fri 27 Feb 7:34AM

  14. petergrantwilson. You truly are witless, if you must­­ try to be funny you will need better ammo than that.­ It­ always amuses me when someone has a pop at me on­ here­ and they cant even spell, mind you I suppose you­ could­ blame the schooling in sunderland

    Always makes­ me laugh, when lonely mag turds think they are a far­ superior human beings.Where's the full stop at the­ end of your literary proverbial @#$%.

    Gargantuan @#$%­ of the highest order.

    PS, I think I may have hit a­ nerve, have I

    From PWilson, on Thu 26 Feb 10:43PM

  15. 'Newcastle, the city that never sweeps'

    From jack torrance, on Thu 26 Feb 7:25PM

  16. petergrantwilson. You truly are witless, if you must­ try to be funny you will need better ammo than that. It­ always amuses me when someone has a pop at me on here­ and they cant even spell, mind you I suppose you could­ blame the schooling in sunderland

    From Tony K, on Thu 26 Feb 6:58PM

  17. Doesnt matter who's injured or fit, sunderland­ will­ always be @#$%, just type it you closet mackem-­ Good no need for@#$& just say it.

    From Tony K,­ on Wed 25 Feb 7:41PM

    The lonely one returns hey-they­ tell me you dont go to matches, because your to busy­ taking young boys all weekend for­ football-alledgedly.
    ps. Your not a scout leader by any­ chance are you(just wondering like)

    FTM and lonely­ people with no mates(apart from the black&decker­ one in is mums shed)of course.

    From PWilson, on Thu 26 Feb 5:14PM

  18. Gonna stick my neck out here and say I fancy a point,we­ should play a 6-4 formation and not venture past the­ 1/2 way line once.

    From jack torrance, on Thu 26 Feb 12:53PM

  19. Tony you've been below us in the league for a­ couple of months now,maybe an idea to think about which­ clubs you are calling @#$%,I suggest you start with the­ ones below NUFC not above

    From jack torrance, on Thu 26 Feb 9:15AM

  20. Doesnt matter who's injured or fit, sunderland will­ always be @#$%

    From Tony K, on Wed 25 Feb 7:41PM
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