Sunderland boss Gus Poyet is set for a boost with the club's medical room fast emptying.

Emanuele Giaccherini has been sidelined for the past six weeks with a knee problem and earlier this term was restricted to just a handful of substitute appearances after suffering an injury in pre-season.

But along with on-loan Ricardo Alvarez and right-back Billy Jones, he is close to full fitness and in contention for the weekend.

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