John O'Shea is in line to retain his place for Sunderland's trip to Watford on Saturday, despite returning from international duty with stitches in a leg wound.
Republic of Ireland defender O'Shea was hurt in a challenge by Wales striker Gareth Bale but was able to train back on Wearside on Thursday, and he could be joined in the team by Lamine Kone, who has shaken off a knee problem.
Saturday's encounter is a crucial as it gets for Sunderland. As the business end of the season approaches, the Black Cats are seven points from safety, albeit with a game in hand.
Goals have been a problem for David Moyes' men. Sunderland have failed to find the net in seven of their last 11 Premier League away games, but have Jermain Defoe high on confidence after his goal for England last weekend.
Watford are not by any means safe yet having not won in their last four. Victory over Sunderland would go a long way to secure their Premier League status for another season, however.
Team news
Watford have doubts over striker Troy Deeney (illness) and defender Sebastian Prodl (calf).
Midfielder Valon Behrami is sidelined by a thigh injury, while defender Christian Kabasele has a hip problem.
Ben Watson (groin), Roberto Pereyra and Mauro Zarate (both knee) all continue their rehabilitation.
Sunderland midfielder Lee Cattermole is closing in on a return to action after more than six months on the sidelines with a hip cartilage problem, as is striker Victor Anichebe (knee), but the game could come too soon for both.
Steven Pienaar (calf), Jan Kirchhoff, Paddy McNair and Duncan Watmore (all knee) are still out.
Opta stats
Watford have won just one of their previous five Premier League meetings with Sunderland (D1 L3).
The Black Cats haven't lost an away game against Watford in any competition since January 1999, drawing each of the last three (W1).
Sunderland have only failed to score in three of their previous 37 league meetings with Watford.
Defoe has scored against 35 different teams in the Premier League, but is yet to score against Watford in the competition (four apps, no goals).
On the day of this game, Sunderland will have spent 210/231 days in the relegation zone of the Premier League in 2016-17 (91 per cent). 138 of these days have seen them bottom of the league (60 per cent).
Only Sunderland (31) have used more players in the Premier League this season than Watford (30 - level with Crystal Palace).
If Watford win this match, they'll already equal their best tally of Premier League home wins in a single Premier League season (six; set in 2015-16).
Sunderland have allowed their opponents 97 more shots on target than they have attempted themselves in the Premier League this season (179 v 82); the biggest disparity in the big five European leagues in 2016-17 so far.
Sunderland have scored just two goals in the opening 30 minutes of Premier League matches this season (a league-low). In comparison, Watford have netted nine in this period, with a joint-league high eight coming in the opening 15 minutes.
Merson's prediction
I watched Watford the other week at Palace, they did OK and weren't a major threat, but looked comfortable on the ball.
But Sunderland have to win, absolutely no doubt about it. I'm going to back them to keep it alive for another couple of weeks. I don't usually go against Watford, but David Moyes said they need to win five games, and this is definitely one of them.
If they lost this, I think that would probably be it.
PAUL PREDICTS: 0-2, 22/1 with Sky Bet
Betting
The Black Cats are propping up the standings and are 100/30 with Sky Bet for three points to help boost any survival prospects at Vicarage Road. They have won just one game since the middle of December (at Crystal Palace) by that other success did come against this rival and a repeat of the 1-0 scoreline in their favour is a 10/1 chance.
The hosts have slumped a little and have gone four games since the start of February without a win - they are 17/20 to get back on track with three points and a draw can be backed at 12/5.
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