Sunderland 2 - 0 Middlesbrough

Sunderland v Middlesbrough: Preview

Updated: September 19, 2008, 4:17 PM UK

Sunderland striker Michael Chopra could return to the squad for the derby clash with Middlesbrough after completing his suspension.

The former Newcastle striker has served his three-game ban for being sent off in pre-season, although manager Roy Keane may decide just one reserve team game is too little football ahead of a Barclays Premier League game.

Keane otherwise has only long-term absentee Kenwyne Jones (knee) out with Carlos Edwards back in contention after recovering from his international exertions.

Keane admitted he is rapidly approaching the point where he will have to disappoint one of his multi-million pound strikers.

Injuries and suspensions so far this season have spared the manager from having to make major decisions over which of his expensively-assembled group of frontman he will have to tell their services are not required on any given matchday.

However, with Jones having resumed light training following his knee injury and Chopra now back in harness after serving a three-match ban, summer arrivals Djibril Cisse and El-Hadji Diouf face even more competition for their places.

Jones is still several weeks away from returning to senior action, while Chopra is short of match fitness ahead of the derby clash with Middlesbrough.

But their manager knows it will not be long before he has a big selection headache - and he cannot wait.

Keane said: "I will have Kenwyne, Michael is now available as well, so it is going to be an interesting few weeks trying to keep people happy.

"But that's part of the job. But I have got really good options, I have to say, with Kenwyne hopefully available in three or four weeks, we will be delighted.

"I will have no complaints in terms of the players I have got available.

"Kenwyne is a big player for us, but having said that, we have got some other good strikers who are doing a very good job.

"But again, when Kenwyne is fit, he will give us something a bit different and more competition for places, and you can't beat that at your football club.''

Midfield trio Mohamed Shawky, Julio Arca and Marvin Emnes all return from injury to join the Middlesbrough squad.

Shawky has recovered from a hamstring injury picked up on international duty with Egypt, former Sunderland favourite Arca proved his fitness after ankle ligament trouble in a 45-minute run-out for Boro's reserves in midweek, while Emnes suffered a slight hamstring strain with Holland Under-21s.

Defender David Wheater also resumes after missing last week's 2-1 defeat at Portsmouth because of tonsilitis.

Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate is looking for an angry reaction from his players as they bid to end to run of away defeats in the Wear-Tees derby.

Boro have not won a game yet on their travels in 2008. They held the lead in their last two trips to Liverpool and Portsmouth before conceding equalisers and then being beaten on both occasions by late goals.

Southgate is desperate to see his side start to concentrate for the full 90 minutes, and believes his players will respond to their two setbacks.

He explained: "The players came away from the Portsmouth game frustrated after conceding another late goal. They were angry as well that we did not do better after taking the lead.

"This week we have looked at the things we did right, and the things we can do better.

"We know we have to start making the right decisions towards the end of games and it's something we have talked about.

"The best way to do this is to made better use of our possession than we did at Portsmouth and start passing the ball better. It's the best way to relieve pressure and it's also a way of sparking attacks.

"I want to see a bit of the anger shining through that the players felt after the Portsmouth game. I think it will and it will help to improve our overall performance.''