Sunderland v Luton preview

Luton look to build on their excellent win against Preston last Saturday against a Sunderland side that has been somewhat hit and miss all season.

Luton fans will be hoping that the confidence factor will have improved following the win, after losing 8 matches on the spin, although they had been showing signs of improvement over the last four of those losses.

Sunderland are unbeaten in 5 games and will be expecting to continue their run.

Mike Newell on Lutontown.co.uk:

'He's (Dean Morgan)trained today and he'll train tomorrow and we'll see how he is for Saturday.'

'We've got the same squad as we had last week. Chris Coyne's had another week of training under his belt so he'll be a little bit fitter.

'Apart from that none of the long term injuries are fit.'

On Luton's win last weekend he went on:

'Confidence spreads and there's no reason why the players shouldn't be confident after the way they played last week, and the performance they put on and the result that they got.

'It could have been more than two against a side that's lost once in 20 games.'

Roy Keane said on Sunderland's official website:

Keane said: 'Deano (Whitehead) has not trained all week and one of two lads have been off with illness, there's obviously something going around, we're down to the bare bones. We've had 13 or 14 players training this week.

'Deano will maybe go for a jog this morning and we'll see how he is. It could leave me with a problem at right-back.'

'The situation with the players is not ideal but if they keep showing the same spirit, desire and determination to do well, I'm sure we'll have half a chance.'

Roy Keane is said to be facing an injury crisis ahead of Luton's visit.

Dean Whitehead has not trained all week because of a hamstring problem, and several others have been asked to stay away after a virus swept through the camp just as happened to Luton a month ago.

If Whitehead fails to recover Keane will struggle to find a right sided defender; Stephen Wright is long-term injured and Nyron Nosworthy is ruled out with abdominal problems.

Chris Brown returned to training today after an ankle injury and Ben Alnwick is available after a shoulder problem.

Players who were let go by a club usually come back at some point to bite them in the 'arris!

Dean Morgan should be fit, otherwise the same squad as last Saturday will be used.

Showed last Saturday what he can do but it depends which Dean Morgan turns up! Let's hope it's the same one as last week.

Andy Penn (West Midlands)

Sunderland 1-1 Luton

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aturday 23 December v Coventry C at Kenilworth Road KO 3 pm

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