Thornton "almost certain" to be fit for next match

SAFC medics have looked at the knee problem that forced Sean Thornton to withdraw from this weekend's Irish U21 team - and say that it's not as serious as first thought.

The problem initially happened during the match against Preston and Thornton initially joined up with his Republic colleagues earlier this week ahead of tonight's televised match. But the injury became aggravated during training and he eventually withdrew and returned to Sunderland so that the club's own physio team could run the rule over his injury and assess the damage.

But the news from the physio's room is good - initially thought to be ligament damage, the injury has been diagnosed as simply a minor strain - and Sean is almost certain to be available for selection for the league match against Crystal Palace on Saturday 13th.