And South Shields-born Martyn Waghorn could even be set to make his comeback in Sunderland's friendly in Jersey on Monday.

The South Shields-born striker has been out for two months with a cruciate knee injury, and has yet to kick a ball in anger this season.

But he could make his return in Jersey after Neil Bailey surprisingly named him in a 17-man squad for the Channel Islands trip.

Sunderland will take on Jersey's senior Island team at the Springfield Stadium in St Helier on Monday (7.30pm kick-off).

Waghorn has been named in a youthful squad which includes two Under-18s players in Michal Misiewicz and David Brown.

It's a timely birthday present for goalkeeper Misiewicz, who turns 18 today, after he made a promising start to his career at Sunderland since joining the club from Plymouth in the summer.

The 6ft 2ins shot-stopper is of Polish descent, but was brought up in Calgary, Canada, and has also played for Jahn Regensburg in Germany and Slask Wroclaw in Poland.

Brown, a 17-year-old left-back from Shotley Bridge, is a second-year scholar, and has appeared for Sunderland's reserves this season.

But interest will centre around Waghorn, rated the best young striker to have come through the ranks since Michael Bridges.

Roy Keane said he had planned to involve the promising teenager in first-team squads early this season, only for a crunching collision between the youngster and Graham Kavanagh on the training pitch to throw a spanner in the works.

Sunderland's squad for the trip to Jersey - base of former club chairman Bob Murray - is: Nick Colgan, Michal Misiewicz, Rade Prica, Jean-Yves M'voto, David Brown, David Meyler, Jamie Chandler, Michael Kay, Niall McArdle, David Dowson, Robbie Weir, Peter Hartley, Martyn Waghorn, Jordan Henderson, Jack Colback, Jordan Cook, Nathan Luscombe.