Steve Bruce

By The Black Cats
September 22 2009

Steve Bruce's former side Birmingham travel north to the Sunderland Stadium of Light for tonight's league cup 3rd round tie with the black cats, and one special player travelling up in the Birmingham squad today is no stranger to the Stadium of Light.

Super Kevin Phillips will be in the squad to face Sunderland tonight, making a return to his old stamping ground and should receive a warm welcome from the mackem faithful. Phillips scored 130 goals over 6 years for the black cats.

Sunderland will be looking to improve on the good first hour against Burnley, before falling apart, and to regain some confidence ahead of this weekends premier league clash with ex boss Mick McCarthy's Wolves.

Teemu Tainio, who is on loan at Birmingham, will be unavailable for selection due being cup-tied after playing, and scoring, against Norwich in the previous round.

"I would maybe like to rest the Fergusons and Bowyers of this world, but they've got to play," he told bcfc.com after his side bounced back to win at Hull following a late defeat to rivals Aston Villa in the Midlands derby. said McLeish.

Steve Bruce has challenged his side to bounce back with a strong showing after declaring his disappointment at a "Jekyll and Hyde" showing at Burnley on Saturday.

Sunderland look likely to be without the services of Lee Cattermole once again as the tenacious midfielder battles a heel problem.  Goalkeeper Marton Fulop (also heel) is continuing his rehabilitation, so Craig Gordon looks set to keep his place in goal.

David Meyler (ankle) and Jordan Cook (knee) are also sidelined, but otherwise Bruce has a fully-fit squad to choose from and may allow himself the luxury of introducing some new faces into the starting eleven.

Paulo Da Silva and John Mensah look set to figure, while Jordan Henderson, Daryl Murphy, David Healy and Nyron Nosworthy are all pushing for starts.