Martin O’Neill ready to unleash Fraizer-sharp Campbell
GOAL THREAT ... Fraizer Campbell celebrates his comeback goal.
MARTIN O’Neill is relieved Sunderland can unleash a fresh Fraizer Campbell at Middlesbrough tonight, without suffering the consequences of resting the striker.
Campbell is likely to return to the Black Cats starting XI at the Riverside for the FA Cup fourth round replay after being left on the bench at Stoke City on Saturday.
O’Neill felt it was too much for Campbell to feature for a third time within a week after returning to the first team following a 17-month gap.
It proved the perfect game for the 24-year-old to miss, with the snow conditions making running with the ball largely redundant and Sunderland securing a fifth win in six without needing to introduce the former Manchester United man.
O’Neill told the Gazette: “Fraizer very much comes back into our thoughts tonight.
“I didn’t really know what the conditions would be like at Stoke when I made my decision.
“But eventually it worked out fine. We’ve been able to give him a bit of a rest, although when you’re a substitute, it’s not as if you’re removed completely from things.
“I’m hoping that the rest will have helped him. I took into consideration he’d had two games in quick succession before Stoke, and I took on board the views of our medical staff here.
“At one stage, he nearly got on when I didn’t think David Meyler was going to get up again from a challenge in the second half.
“But I was pleased we got through the game without risking him.”
Meyler took Campbell’s place to form a five-man midfield at the Britannia Stadium, with the Irishman the obvious contender to miss out tonight despite impressing O’Neill on his first start of the season.
“I was very pleased with him,” added the Sunderland boss.
Campbell Set For Sunderland Recall
“The lad’s had horrendous injuries to contend with and he’s just fighting his way back.”
Sunderland will be without on-loan defensive duo Wayne Bridge and Sotirios Kyrgiakos tonight, with the pair not registered in time for the first game against Boro.
Neither will Sunderland be boosted by the return of any of their injury absentees.
Skipper Lee Cattermole is due to return to training later in the week, but won’t feature against his former club or in Saturday’s Premier League visit of Arsenal.
Meanwhile, Nicklas Bendtner should have a protective mask fitted at the end of the week after resuming training on Monday.
“Tonight’s too early for Lee,” said O’Neill.
“He’ll start training towards the end of the week and I can’t see him being available for the Arsenal game on Saturday.
“If we get knocked out, he would certainly be looking towards West Bromwich Albion.
“If we get through, there’s a possibility he might be back for the fifth round.
“Bendtner just started doing a little bit on Monday and we’ll work with him this week.
“He gets the mask fitted at the end of the week, but there’s nothing to prevent him doing some running and non-contact stuff.”
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Weather for Jarrow
Wednesday 23 May 2012
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