Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill intends to speak to Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan this week but his personal intervention is unlikely to curtail the African player of the year's loan spell with Dubai-based club Al-Ain.

O'Neill is hopeful former Manchester United striker Fraizer Campbell will be fully fit by then after he, too, came through his first run-out in Thursday's behind closed doors game.

The Sunderland boss said: "I've got Asamoah's number and should have called him a couple of days ago. I'll do that, just to introduce myself. In terms of the contract and the way the deal is structured, there may well be no chance.

"Fraizer is so bubbly. Nothing fazes him in turns of being down or fighting back from the same injury. That would have knocked other people. From that point of view alone, it'll be great to see him back. He's just had that little game so we're hoping that next week's reserve game won't be called off so he can start in that game."