Kieran Richardson

By The Black Cats
December 19 2008

Kieran Richardson will keep the captain's armband when Sunderland travel to Yorkshire to face Phil Brown's Hull City tomorrow. The midfielder was give the captaincy for the first time at Sunderland last weekend, in a game that saw the Black Cats thrash West Brom by four goals to nil at the Stadium of Light.

Sbragia said: "Kieran's done extremely well this season. He's maturing, and the decision to make him captain last week showed him that everything he has done has been noticed.

Sbragia, stand in manager at the Stadium of Light is no stranger to Kieran Richardson, he coached him in his time at Old Trafford when Richardson was just a young lad.

Sbragia added: "The midfielder has grown in stature this season."

"I think generally this season he has shown good leadership, and we asked him to continue that against West Brom.

"Perhaps at Manchester United he didn't have that leadership instinct, but he has grown up and was a worthy captain for us."

Richardson took the captains arm band for the first time because club captain Dean Whitehead was unavailable through injury, an injury which he sustained in Sunderlands frustrating defeat away at Old Trafford in Sbragia's first game in charge. Whitehead is available forthis weekends game, giving Sbragia a selection headache, I suppose it's one of the better headaches to have.

Richardson is virtually an ever-present in Sunderland's side this season after making 18 appearances for the club so far.

"He has got the energy and I think the modern player needs that," said Sbragia.

In other news, Sunderland have recalled 'keeper Trevor Carson from his loan spell at Chesterfield.

The Northern Ireland U21 goalkeeper has made 20 appearances for the Spirites since joining them on a season-long loan in August.

Carson is available to play in Chesterfield's games against Port Vale, Luton and Darlington before returning to his parent club.

Graham Kavanagh, who is on loan at Carlisle has had his loan period extended by an extra month.