SUNDERLAND manager Peter Reid, bracing himself for a goalkeeping crisis before Saturday's home game against Blackburn Rovers, is set to bring in an emergency replacement on loan.

First choice Thomas Sorensen looks certain to be ruled out with a broken nose received after only ten minutes of Denmark's 1-1 World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland, while Austrian keeper Jurgen Macho is still struggling to shrug off a thigh injury which kept him out of Sunderland's first reserve game of the season last week.

Sunderland's other two keepers, Northern Ireland Under-21 international Michael Ingham and former Worksop Town stopper Jon Kennedy, have no first team experience and it is unlikely that they would be risked at Premiership level.

Reid, who still refuses to rule out either of his senior keepers, is ready, however, to implement a contingency plan of bringing in someone on loan - and he could move for the former Welsh international Andy Marriott, who was on Sunderland's books until being released on a free transfer last season.

Reid is not allowed to seek a keeper on loan from another Premiership club and would have to look elsewhere if he finds himself without an experienced stand-in.

He could well move for Marriott, currently second choice behind Kevin Miller at Barnsley.

There is a complication, however, because Miller was sent off in the 1-0 defeat at Grimsby on Saturday for a professional foul and now faces an automatic one match suspension, starting a week on Saturday.

Reid, who has despatched his physiotherapist, Mark Leather, to Copenhagen, to discover the exact extent of the injury to Sorensen, who could undergo further minor surgery in hospital today, will give Macho as long as possible to recover from his thigh injury before deciding on his next course of action.

* Sunderland's 20-year-old defender, George McCartney, step up for his senior Northern Ireland debut against Iceland at Windsor Park tonight.

He will take the place of Preston central defender Colin Murdock - incolved in the accidental collision with Sorensen in Cophenhagen - who is suspended.

Northern Ireland manager Sammy McIlroy had no hesitation in promoting McCartney and said last night: "He is a first class player - he has got a first class temperament and had first team experience with Sunderland at Fulham this season.

"I have been looking at him and I've been dying to give him his debut - I have been waiting for the chance to bring him into the team. I have spoken to George and he knows he is playing and is looking forward to it.

"He is not the nervous type - he is one of those boys who will just get on with it. I believe he is an outstanding talent who can play in a variety of positions."

* Sunderland will travel to Blyth for a fund-raising game for the UniBond League side this month. Reid will take a Sunderland XI to Croft Park on Monday, September 17 (7.30).

* Former Sunderland winger Nicky Summerbee has returned to Manchester City on a three-month contract.

The 30-year-old has re-signed at Maine Road after impressing while training with the Division One outfit, who he originally joined from Swindon in 1994 for £1.5m. He moved to Sunderland in a £1million move in 1997 and played for Bolton last season.

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