Sunderland boss Steve Bruce hopes Anton Ferdinand is over his injury problems.

Ferdinand has struggled with an ankle knock since December.

Bruce told safc.com: "How many times has it happened this season, where we've seen a player pick up a knock and it's kept them out for two, two and a half months?

"Every injury seems to have been a serious one. Anton's been unlucky - something which looked so innocuous has kept him out since early December."