Mick McCarthy is hopeful that Julio Arca will have shaken off the after-effects of a bizarre training incident to take his place in the starting eleven to face Wigan on Saturday at the Stadium of Light.
Arca was stung by a jellyfish during a swim in the north sea earlier this week and had an overnight stay in hospital to assess an allergic reaction which the player developed, but the Argentinian is on the mend.
“He’s fine, he’s in today” said Mick.
“It’s taken it out of him and we’ll see how he is. It was bizarre – I’ve never seen anything like it. We’re very hopeful he’ll be okay for tomorrow.”
Mart Poom looks set to go back between the sticks after recovering from a back injury, but it looks like Ben Alnwick will provide cover on the bench, as Thomas Myhre is now injured, having sustained a knee injury in Tuesday evening’s 3-0 Carling Cup win over Chester City.
George McCartney could also be back in contention for a start after recovering from injury.
Jeff Whitley will return to training today but it’s uncertain whether or not he’ll be fit enough to figure in tomorrow’s game, and Stephen Wright is still unavailable.
