JODY Craddock will captain Sunderland at his old club Cambridge United tonight after Peter Reid bowed to sentiment and honoured the defender for showing tremendous character through personal tragedy.

Six weeks after his baby son Jake was a victim of cot death, Craddock will make an emotional return to Cambridge - his home for four years until he joined Sunderland in 1997.

Reid's decision to give him the captaincy this evening in the continued absence of Michael Gray is fitting reward for Craddock, who has shown incredible bravery to recover from the devastating loss of Jake and made an impressive return to the first team against Aston Villa on Saturday.

The Sunderland manager, who will give goalkeeper Thomas Myhre his debut as he fields a near full-strength side at Third Division club Cambridge, runs out of superlatives as he pays tribute to Craddock's courage.

Reid said: "We can try to help someone in Jody's situation but ultimately it's all down to the lad and his attitude.

"To have gone what he's gone through and do so well in such an important game shows what a strong character he is.

"He's just got on with his life and he's done terrifically well. Everything was down to him on Saturday.

"Being captain is a great honour but I'm delighted to give it to him. It's no more than he deserves.

"Being captain won't be a problem for him if the character he's shown recently is anything to go by.

"Sometimes in football there's room for sentiment, and it will be nice for him to lead the team out at his old club.

"He's been outstanding for us down the years and he's never been an ounce of trouble. I've left him out of the team but he's got back and done well.

"He's a really good pro and I was just so delighted for him over the weekend. There's no fuss about him and he's great to have at the football club."

Reid will move David Bellion, Saturday's goal hero, on to the right wing tonight in place of the rested Matty Piper. Marcus Stewart will start up front alongside Tore Andre Flo.

Stephen Wright could return against Arsenal on Sunday after a scan revealed he had not suffered ankle ligament damage, but in his absence this evening Darren Williams will continue at right-back.

Reid added: "I was very disappointed to get knocked out of the Worthington Cup in the second round last year.

"As a manager, you want to have the momentum that a good cup run gives you, as we saw when we got to the semi-finals in 1999.

"I'm desperate to be in the hat for the next round, but we'll have to roll up our sleeves and battle before we can play our football."

Myhre heads to Cambridge looking to bring an end to the "nightmare" start to his Sunderland career.

While local rivals Newcastle United are playing at Turin's Stadio delle Alpi tonight, Norway international Myhre is pleased to have the opportunity to play at the Stadio delle Abbey.

He said: "To be honest, my time at Sunderland has been a nightmare so far. I've been injured pretty much all season and I've had three injections in my groin.

"I'm really looking forward to this game. Whether I'm playing against a pub side, Cambridge or Arsenal, or for my country, I always prepare 100 per cent."

* Thomas Sorensen was last night named in the Denmark squad for their Euro 2004 qualifier against Luxembourg. The game will take place on October 12 in Copenhagen.

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