Sunderland Keeper Crisis

It's a head scratcher for Sunderland and for me - I had decided on Gordon as my Week 4 keeper some time ago, but now... 

Third-choice goalkeeper Trevor Carson is on standby to make his Sunderland debut when Hull visit the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

Craig Gordon is unlikely to face the Tigers having been ruled out of Scotland`s World Cup qualifier against Holland with a thigh strain while Marton Fulop is battling a long-standing heel injury.

That means Carson, who had a loan spell with Chesterfield in League Two last season, could now be called on when the Barclays Premier League resumes.

Also, George McCartney pulled out of the Northern Ireland squad with a hamstring injury, leaving manager Steve Bruce without a recognised left-back following the departure of Danny Collins.

Lee Cattermole missed out on England Under-21s encounter with Greece in midweek while striker Kenwyne Jones will be monitored having been away with Trinidad & Tobago.

Bruce told the Echo: "All those things are a worry, there's no doubt about that. But we just have to get on with it because pretty much every Premier League manager is in the same boat. It's the goalkeeping position that's the area which is most in our mind but it's likely to be a case of leaving a lot of things to the last minute before being able to make some decisions."

So do I go with Carson? I'm not sure as I don't feel as confident of a clean sheet with a rookie involved. The other option I'm now leaning towards is Robbo (unfortunately).

Additional injury news:-

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez will have an interesting selection choice to make this weekend with Fabio Aurelio on the verge of a comeback. Does he bring the Brazilian left-back straight back into the team or does he stick with Emiliano Insua? Rafa, it's over to you...

Aurelio hasn't played yet this season after damaging his knee on holiday. "I was with my brother in law and some friends playing football and joking around and suddenly I felt something strange in my knee," he told the Liverpool website.

"Straight away I called my old team Sao Paulo and they examined the knee and found there was a cartilage injury."

But he's been back training for the past couple of weeks and hopes to play in a practice match on Thursday to prove his fitness for Saturday's meeting with Burnley.

Gary Neville has missed so many games in recent years that it has become something of a surprise whenever he is declared fit. Well, he's fit for Manchester United's trip to Tottenham at the weekend, and that's rather handy news for Sir Alex with John O'Shea set for an 'extended spell' on the sidelines after picking up a muscle injury on international duty with the Republic. Then again, with Rio Ferdinand also expected back, Wes Brown is probably ahead of Neville in the right-back pecking order.

An anxious night ahead for Arsene Wenger with Russia expected to play Andrey Arshavin against Wales despite ongoing concerns about the groin strain he suffered playing for Arsenal against Manchester United two weeks ago.

The Mail reports that 'Arshavin took part in a training session at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and reported no ill-effects' and Guus Hiddink says that, "He will take a responsible decision if he cannot play. But he would like to play. When you are not almost fully recovered you normally get a reaction. But he hasn't had one so far."

Wenger will, though, hope that Cesc Fabregas proves his fitness by featuring in Spain's qualifier with Estonia. Although the Arsenal captain was missing for the trip to Old Trafford last Saturday, he appeared as a second-half substitute when Spain beat Belgium 5-0 on Saturday.

Martin Taylor, not exactly a popular figure at Arsenal, is also coming back. The Birmingham defender, who injured an ankle in pre-season, says that he should be able to return in three weeks' time or so, but striker Cameron Jerome is making 'slow progress' with his ankle problem. "It's just steady rehab. I'm a couple of weeks away yet before I can step it up with running and get back into training," he said.

Meanwhile, West Ham midfielder Valon Behrami has expressed his delight at overcoming his injury nightmare.

The popular Switzerland international has been out for six months with a knee ligament injury but returned to action for the Hammers' reserves on Tuesday night.

UPDATE:

The day after a full raft of internationals, we don't start with a globetrotter but with a man who apparently spent the weekend in a caravan.

Manchester United have confirmed that Rio Ferdinand could make his first appearance of the season against Tottenham on Saturday after recovering from a thigh injury.

Gary Neville, Fabio and Wes Brown have also been declared fit for the match but John O'Shea is a major doubt with a calf injury.

Elsewhere, Tomas Rosicky started for the Czech Republic against San Marino and played 56 minutes. He has not played for his club since January 2008.

Cezh coach Ivan Rasek revealed: "I'm happy above all that Tomas could play, that he was ready for the game.

"I had a deal with Wenger to keep Tomas on the pitch no longer than an hour."

Meanwhile, Andrey Arshavin completed 90 minutes for Russia in Wales but aggravated a groin injury that will keep him out of this Saturday's visit to Manchester City. Arsene Wenger is not incredibly happy.

"He should not have played," he said. "He will be out for Saturday and Wednesday and certainly Wigan. He had a groin problem which I took him out after Manchester United. He should not have played. You can say a lot, but it doesn't do a lot."

Bad news for Aston Villa, who will lose Curtis Davies for at least four months after he underwent shoulder surgery. It's a good job he's just bought Richard Dunne and James Collins.

Predicted line-ups and Week 5 Preview to follow tomorrow...how are your teams looking?

Cheers,
AM