El-Hadji Diouf was demoted to the Sunderland reserves last night.

Diouf has not started a game since the defeat at Stoke last month although he has been a playing substitute in three of the last four matches.

The summer signing from Bolton has lost his place since he was pictured in the early hours at Obafemi Martins' birthday party, less than 48 hours before the thrashing at Chelsea, although Kenwyne Jones's return to fitness has not helped his cause.