Andy Cole is in line to make his debut for Sunderland against former club Newcastle United this weekend.

Cole has not been seen in action since limping out of a reserve game against Everton with a calf strain in September, but returned for the 8-0 thrashing of Wolviston at Eppleton CW's County Durham home in the 'Newton Moor Durham County Challenge Cup'.

He now hopes to finally make his first-team debut at the Stadium of Light on Saturday lunchtime when Sunderland entertain his old friends from Newcastle, but may have to at least begin on the substitutes bench.