Richardson to face late fitness test
Kieran Richardson
By The Black Cats
January 7 2009
Sunderland stand in skipper Kieran Richardson will face a late fitness test before the Tees-Wear 'derby' at the Riverside when Sunderland visit Middlesbrough this Saturday. Richardson hobbled off after a poor challenge from Bolton Skipper Kevin Nolan in Sunderland's 2-1 victory over the whitemen at the Sunderland Stadium of Light in an all Premier League FA Cup clash last weekend.
Richardson was outstanding in that game - creating the first goal which was powerfully headed in by Kenwyne Jones - he ran the show from his centre midfield position.
Richardson, 24, was also awesome defensively making two or three goal saving tackles.
Sunderland Boss Ricky Sbragia will leave it late before deciding whether Kieran Richardson is fit enough to play in this Saturday's Tees-Wear derby.
Richardson, an influential figure for Sunderland this season, has ankle problem and has not trained all week after suffering the injury against Bolton.
"Kieran's progressing and we're hoping he will be able to do some light training tomorrow," said Sbragia.
"We're hoping he'll be OK because he's done exceptionally well this year. He's a good player, he showed that last Saturday - the distance he covers and his quality on the ball."
Sunderland have won one of their last eight trips to the Riverside Stadium, three yeas ago when Julio Arca, now a Boro player, was on the score sheet for the Black Cats in a 2-0 win.
"Saturday's a huge game and one that we're looking forward to," said Sbragia."
If Richardson doesn't make the game we have two players who are itching to get into the starting lineup after putting in a good performance in the FA Cup tie with Bolton.
El-Hadji Diouf had a great game, while Carlos Edwards also had an impressive match, getting down the wing and crossing for Djibril Cissé to acrobatically volley the ball past Bolton 'keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.
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If not play Diouf in midfield with a free role.
Tainio in the middle, Malbranque on the right, and Edwards on the left
I don't really rate Reid at all, can't beat a player, loses the ball too much and his crosses/corners/free kicks never beat the 1st man!
Quote:Scotty - mackem
That sounds ok..... but i dont like the idea of edwards on the left..... because he is a winger who is right footed, so he would have to cut inside all the time..... steed always comes inside anyways, so having that on both sides would make us to predictable.
I suppose so.
Could always put Edwards no the Right and Steed on the left (though he's been awesome out on the right)
That way we have someone who's going to get to the byline and cross in Edwards, and Steed can cut in, and actually be in a better position to shoot on his favoured foot, cuold get a few more goals playing out on the left actually.