Sunderland v Man United - Hutton to miss United visit

Posted Sunday, May 02, 2010 by PA

Sunderland full-back Alan Hutton will miss Sunday's Premier League clash with Manchester United through suspension.

Hutton was sent off after clashing with Jozy Altidore during last weekend's 1-0 win at Hull, but had his ban reduced from three games to one on appeal.

Central defender Michael Turner, who was substituted at half-time against his former club with an arm injury, has returned to training and is in contention.

John Mensah (hamstring) and Lee Cattermole (calf) have also trained in recent days and could figure, but Andy Reid, who had surgery on a calf problem this week, and George McCartney (hamstring) are out.

Steve Bruce is keeping his fingers crossed that Jordan Henderson and David Meyler can do for Sunderland what Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes have done for Manchester United.

The four men could find themselves in direct opposition at the Stadium of Light on Sunday as the much-decorated United duo attempt to keep alive their dreams of adding another Barclays Premier League winners' medal to their impressive hauls.

Giggs and Scholes, along with David Beckham, Nicky Butt and the Neville brothers, have formed the basis of successive teams at Old Trafford for a generation after emerging from the youth set-up to drive forward Sir Alex Ferguson's domination of English football.

Bruce, who witnessed their introduction first hand as one of Ferguson's keystones, is well placed to judge their contribution to a procession of trophies, and is hoping his talented youngsters can help signal a new phase in Sunderland's development.

Asked if Henderson and Meyler, who signed new five-year contracts last weekend after forcing their way into the first team this season, could save him millions of pounds, Bruce replied: "They already have done, especially Jordan.

"Jordan and David Meyler have got big futures here - that's why we have rewarded them both with five-year contracts.

"[Martyn] Waghorn and [Jack] Colback coming back [from loan spells at Leicester and Ipswich respectively] - can they go and do what those two have done?

"There's nothing better for any manager, even if you are manager of Manchester United, if you have a group of young players coming through together. They have got an outstanding chance."

Nineteen-year-old Henderson in particular has made a huge impression this season, and has been named the club's official and the fans' Young Player of the Year.

Bruce said: "Jordan has had a wonderful season and has rightly been chosen as Young Player of the Year.

"He's had a fantastic first full season, and I think that's just the tip of the iceberg of what he is going to achieve because I do believe, if he keeps his feet on the ground, we have got a very, very good player in the making."

Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand are set to return from groin strains in time for United.

Rooney sat out last weekend's victory over Tottenham, while Ferdinand has missed two matches since he suffered his injury at Blackburn.

Sir Alex Ferguson has never lost to a team managed by United old boy Bruce, although Sunderland have lost just twice at home in the league this season.

Ferguson has cited Gary Neville's mental fortitude as the major reason he is still going strong - and hinted he will find a role for the full-back and fellow old stagers Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs when they finally decide to hang up their boots.

Neville has signed a new one-year contract, committing himself to another season at his only professional club.

It follows on from similar announcements concerning Giggs and Scholes in recent weeks, while Edwin van der Sar has also agreed a deal that will take him past his 40th birthday.

Neville's contract might have taken the longest amount of time to resolve, but is also the most surprising.

Two years ago, the veteran full-back was completing a second barren season, during which time he had made just a single appearance.

As he tries to resolve a date - and opposition - for a testimonial match that is supposed to be played this summer, Neville's recovery from a broken ankle, followed by a series of muscular problems, has gone so well he is even being talked of as an outsider for Fabio Capello's World Cup squad.

It is a staggering achievement, and one Ferguson feared Neville would never be able to complete.

"We worried about him coming back," said the United boss.

"When you are out for 18 months in your mid-30s it is a concern.

"You don't worry about Gary Neville's commitment and his endeavours to get back from injury. He is more determined than any of us.

"But any physio will tell you when you get injuries at 32 and 33 and you are out for 18 months, it is serious."