Carlos Edwards

By The Black Cats
January 12 2009

Sunderlands Carlos Edwards looks to get his chance to shine when Martin O'Neill's high fliers Aston Villa visit the Sunderland Stadium of Light on Saturday 17th January in a Premier League clash. Edwards will most likely replace the suspended (& injured) Steed Malbranque.

Malbranque, who has played in every Permier League game this season for the Black Cats, picked up his 5th booking of the season and is suspended when Villa visit the Sunderland Stadium of Light.

However Sbragia has said that he's not worried about Malbranque being unavailable.

Sbragia said he was confident after seeing Edwards play well in the 2-1 win over Bolton in the FA Cup a week ago and also in the Tees-Wear derby when replacing Malbranque who suffered a dead-leg early in the second half.

"In an ideal world Steed would not miss the Villa game but he has the five yellow cards and Carlos Edwards gives us a quality replacement," said Sbragia.

"Carlos was excellent against Bolton; he covers a lot of ground and gets us up the field with his pace."

Edwards played eight games for Championship leaders Wolves during a loan spell earlier in the season and their manager Mick McCarthy has made no secret of his hope that the winger will return to Molineux.

But Sbragia made it clear he had no intention of selling the Trinidadian international, signed from Luton Town for £1.5m in 2005.

He said: "There has been a lot of interest in Carlos but we don't want him to go, he's a Premier League player."