SUNDERLAND'S wantaway midfielder Sean Thornton will be handed the opportunity to impress any would-be suitors in the Carling Cup second round clash at Crewe tonight

The 21-year-old revealed last week he wanted out of the Stadium of Light after failing to hold down a regular starting place in the Wearsiders' first XI.

But Mick McCarthy is down to the bare bones of his squad with only 16 first-team players available for the trip to Gresty Road, and the Sunderland boss admitted Thornton will be involved.

"He comes into the equation and perhaps he'll get the chance to show everyone what he's made of and what he's capable of," said McCarthy, who has yet to officially receive the former Tranmere Rovers player's written transfer request

"I received it (the transfer request) through the media which is not my way of doing things.

"I'm taking it that he has (handed in request). I've not had it confirmed by his agent or himself and I've not asked the question."

Also likely to be given a place tonight is striker Chris Brown, who was reinstated yesterday after the club completed their investigation into allegations of Sunderland players firing a toy gun at passers-by.

Brown has been fined, issued with a formal written warning and ordered to do community service, but the injury list is such that the Wearsiders will turn to the 19-year-old.

McCarthy will definitely be without George McCartney (knee), Carl Robinson (head injury), and Jeff Whitley (calf) tonight, along with long-term absentees Kevin Kyle (hip), Matt Piper (knee) and Colin Healy (broken leg).

His two loan signings, Simon Johnson and Darren Carter, are unavailable and the Black Cats boss will also be loath to risk Julio Arca (calf) while both strikers, Marcus Stewart and Stephen Elliott, are carrying injuries.

Although the Wearsiders will be looking to progress in the Carling Cup, McCarthy admitted his first priority will be to field his best available starting side in Friday's crunch match against Leeds United at Elland Road.

The Sunderland manager will protect those players he considers 'at risk' of aggravating injuries against Crewe, and so the team he fields tonight will be far different from the XI that started against Preston on Saturday.

McCarthy said: "I've got 18 players available to me, including two on loan. I just can't afford to lose people.

"Certainly long-term because I've taken two loans already.

"If I get any of these lads injured who are carrying things already - Jeff Whitley (calf), George McCartney (knee and hamstring), Stephen Wright (ankle), Julio Arca (calf and thigh), Stevie Elliott (groin), Marcus Stewart (hamstring) - and they were to tear a groin or hamstring and they were out for three to four weeks then that's me knackered.

"I've got people on loan. I can only take four and then four long-term so I've got to protect them and make sure I keep the squad fit and strong for the season ahead.

"We've got 39 league games to go. If they play, pull up and then come off with a calf strain or groin strain then they're not fit for Friday and next Tuesday (Sheffield United) I think then it wouldn't be right.

"There'll be changes but I'm not doing it to the detriment of the Carling Cup or reducing it to farce. We play Tuesday, Friday, Tuesday.

"There'll be a few lads in who've been knocking at my door telling me they want to play, and there's also the ones who've been having a chat with me about playing."

McCarthy did however have some more positive news on Robinson, who came off worst in a clash of heads against Preston.

The midfielder appears only to have damaged his two front teeth and his manager was a relieved man when Robinson was discharged from hospital on Saturday night

"He's alright. He came into training battered and bruised from the injury but he seemed OK," said McCarthy, who revealed Robinson was more than happy to make himself available for tonight's game at Crewe.

"He wasn't concussed and he told me he thought he's be alright for Tuesday.

"He was released from hospital on Saturday evening. He may lose his two front teeth and there's was a little bit of fun about that at training. But when he was going off on Saturday it really upset me.

"In those circumstances you hope for the best but fear the worst. When you see one of your players coming off on a stretcher in a neck brace it's worrying."

Sunderland (probable): Myrhe, Lynch, Collins, Caldwell, Williams, Lawrence, Thornton, Whitehead, Oster, Elliott, Brown.

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