John O'Shea will not be available for Wednesday's clash with Liverpool, Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce revealed today in his pre-match press conference.
The Reds travel to the Stadium of Light later this week and will be boosted by the news that their hosts are having something of a defensive crisis, with Younes Kaboul also absent - as he will be for up to two months.
However, Lee Cattermole should be fit to start, with Allardyce admitting he's a big fan of the midfielder following his return from injury off the bench against Manchester City last time out.
Defensive crisis
Sunderland have had their problems at the back this season, not just in conceding goals but in lining up for games. With Allardyce preferring a 3-5-2 set-up, O'Shea, Kaboul and Sebastian Coates have been the first choice three, and if one is not available, then the manager has reverted to a back four.
This has been justified too, with Wes Brown stepping in against Everton, for example, and the team conceding six goals in a thrashing at Goodison Park. As well as this, the 1-0 defeat against Watford saw Billy Jones try his luck in a central role, but again to no avail.
However, it seems Allardyce will have to go for the back four this time, with just Coates available out of the three as he revealed O'Shea "has a calf injury" ahead of the match.
"It's not too serious," he continued, "but maybe serious enough for the exclusion from the squad for the Liverpool game."
Though "everyone else is okay," the boss called this injury "something [they] could do without" as O'Shea's "experience and knowledge of the game" is extremely important to the team.
Nonetheless, he does not want to be "foolish" and risk playing him as "he could tear that muscle even more and be out for a longer time."
"We'll take a view on it," he added, "but it looks quite doubtful at the moment."
As for a back-up, Allardyce suggested that Brown will be called upon to partner Coates, saying that if O'Shea is out "Wes would need to step in."
Furthermore, youngster Tom Beadling "has been training with [the first team] for the last few weeks" and so he could also be in contention.
"We'll make our choice and get on with it," said Allardyce. "You have to at this time of year."
Cattermole key
There is positive news though as Cattermole will be good to go from the off this time out, having come off the bench in Saturday's 4-1 loss following time out with a back injury.
Options have been wearing thin in midfield lately, with Sebastian Larsson also out for another week or so, but the vice-captain's return should spark the team into life and give them some added inspiration, such is his passion on the pitch.
It was no surprise to see Allardyce give Cattermole praise then, with him saying that he "like[s]" him as he gives the team "a more competitive edge out of possession."
The manager does not think that his players are "getting in people's faces" and "closing the opposition down enough" recently, but the midfielder, a key player for his team, can offer this and encourage those around him to do the same against Liverpool.
Allardyce looking for improvement
With Sunderland now on a run of four successive defeats, Allardyce is unsurprisingly keen to see something different on Wednesday.
Liverpool come into the game off the back of a 1-0 victory over league leaders Leicester City on Saturday, but they have been very inconsistent this season and so the Black Cats can fancy their chances.
In order to "put points on the board" though, Allardyce believes his team must "get better" at the pressing side of things and ensuring opponents do not get any time on the ball.
He has picked this out as "a factor that's been brought to light...in the last two games" and will hope that Cattermole does help his team improve in this sense, with his energy rubbing off on others.
“Our play out of possession is equally as important as when we have the ball," the manager concluded, with Sunderland in for a tough test on Wearside against Jürgen Klopp's creative side.
Sunderland will host Liverpool on Wednesday night, with kick-off at the Stadium of Light scheduled for 7:45PM (BST).