Get the latest SAFC transfer news straight to your inbox by signing up to our FREE newsletter Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Jermain Defoe and Lee Cattermole could return for Sunderland’s crunch clash with West Bromwich Albion tomorrow.

The Black Cats have missed Cattermole badly, with the midfielder having been out of action since the end of December due to groin and knee injuries.

And goalscorer Defoe was absent with a calf problem on Sunday as Sunderland exited the FA Cup at Bradford City.

Midfielder Cattermole returned to full training at the beginning of the week and is ready to return and, while Defoe missed a couple of days training, he is fit enough to play in what boss Gus Poyet accepts is a vital game between two sides scrapping for survival.

(Image: Getty Images)

“We thought in the beginning we were able to cope without Lee, but in certain ways, we didn’t,” said Poyet.

“It’s an important game, where you need important characters and Lee is one of them.

“If everything is all right, he’s going to be there and Jermain the same.

“Jermain is a bit more difficult because he hasn’t trained a lot.

“But there are moment and times that if you need to take a risk, you will, so we’ll see what happens tomorrow.”

Billy Jones, Will Buckley and Emanuele Giaccherini are all likely to miss out through injury, while Jack Rodwell is rated 50-50.