Sunderland are set to be buoyed by the return of central defender Michael Turner.
The 27-yeard old former Hull City man has been sidelined since November 22 with a knee ligament injury but is expected to be in Steve Bruce's squad for next weekend's trip to Everton.
Sunderland have conceded nine goals in their past three matches but Turner says it will be nice to come back into a line-up that is at least sitting in a comfortable position on the table.
"It's up to me to get back fit and get back into the team," said Turner. "It would be nice to come back into a team who are doing well and flying high, though. It makes it easier than if the team is struggling for form and victories.
"It's not all about the two at centre-back. It's about other players in the team doing their job defensively. We've defended well from all positions most of the year. Against Stoke, they sent all their big guns forward and they all know exactly where the ball is going.
"They're well drilled and practice every day on situations like that. It's always difficult defending set-pieces like that. It was frustrating that we couldn't deal with the bits and pieces."
