Sunderland midfielder Jason McAteer underwent a scan on his groin injury yesterday as Peter Reid battles against a fresh injury crisis.

The 30-year-old Republic of Ireland international is one of eight senior players struggling to be fit for tomorrow's Barclaycard Premiership trip to West Ham after having to pull out of his country's friendly with the United States on Wednesday.

Sunderland's medical staff will decide whether or not McAteer, who picked up the problem while training with Mick McCarthy's squad, can figure at Upton Park at the end of a week during which the Black Cats' treatment room has been horrendously crowded.

Reid has been forced to contend with a depressing casualty list for much of the season. Just when he needs all his troops raring to go, he could find himself without several first-team regulars.

Sunderland head for the capital still hovering uncomfortably above the drop zone.

Although Ipswich's dreadful fixture list and Derby's receding chances of escape mean Sunderland's top-flight status should not be under any real threat, they will not breathe easily until they gain another win.

If they are to get it this weekend, it may be the supporting cast who have to do it with first-teamers dropping like flies.

Reid was yesterday waiting for his other international players to return from midweek friendlies with his fingers crossed, but admitted his problems were mounting.

''We'll have to wait until everyone is back and take stock of things, but it's not ideal,'' he told the club's official website, www.safc.com.

Skipper Michael Gray, who has missed the last two games with a back injury, is definitely out, while long-term absentees Emerson Thome and Julio Arca will also be missing.

Brazilian Thome, who has twice undergone surgery on his injured knee this season, has not played since New Year's Day, but was due to get a run-out for the reserves against Liverpool last night.

Arca has also been sidelined since January with a troublesome groin strain, and it seems unlikely he will play again this season as Reid attempts to give him a rest after two tough years since his arrival in England.

But it is perhaps in attack where the manager has his biggest headache, with Cameroon international Patrick Mboma struggling with an ankle injury and Kevin Phillips and Niall Quinn both receiving treatment.

Phillips has played the last two games with a stomach muscle strain and remains a doubt, while Quinn damaged his neck against Liverpool last weekend and withdrew from the Republic of Ireland squad in midweek.

Youngster Kevin Kyle is on standby and could yet find himself having to play a major role.

Sunderland head south having won just three of their last 17 games and facing another trip to the capital to meet Charlton a week later, with Derby heading for the Stadium of Light on the final day of the season.

* Aston Villa manager Graham Taylor is ready to offload long-serving full-back Alan Wright after seven years with the Premiership club.

Wright, who has one year left of his current deal, has been told he can leave Villa after making more than 300 first-team appearances.

It is understood that his former club Blackburn, Burnley and Manchester City are keeping tabs on Wright's situation.

The dependable defender was a virtual ever-present until just before Christmas, when manager John Gregory dropped him in favour of youngster Jlloyd Samuel.

Since Taylor took command in February the situation has not altered.

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