MANAGER Roy Keane is contemplating taking a gamble on the fitness of Carlos Edwards in Sunderland's Premier League encounter with Reading on Saturday.

Edwards has missed the Black Cats last four games with a hamstring tear and last appeared for the club in the 2-2 draw at Birmingham City on August 14.

Hamstring injuries usually take between four and six weeks to repair and by the time Steve Coppell's Royals visit the Stadium of Light, the Trinidad and Tobago international will have been out of action for four and a half weeks.

Keane is willing to gamble on Edwards' fitness and hopes his return will provide a turnaround in the Wearsider's fortunes - four defeats without scoring a goal - after he returned to training this week.

"We hope Carlos has a chance for Reading," admitted the Black Cats boss. "He's done a bit of light training this week but you have to be careful with a hamstring (injury) - anyone will tell you that.

"You think you are getting there, you push it and then you are out for a bit longer. He won't be doing too much over the next two or three days and we'll have to see next week.

"But Carlos has been a miss, he is a big player for us."

One player definitely out of this weekend's contest will be Andrew Cole.

The former Newcastle and Manchester United striker pulled a calf strain in the reserves' victory over Everton, while Ian Harte is another unlikely starter after being short of match fitness.

Keane, meanwhile, confessed he has welcomed the international break so he can get some of his injured players off the treatment table and back on to the pitch.

"Coley picked up a calf injury and he hasn't done much since then," said Keane. "We're hoping those who are carry niggles can rest them this week and we can get them back on the training pitch next week."