Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones is facing a battle to be fit for Sunday's Barclays Premier League trip to Fulham after picking up an injury on reserve team duty.
The 25-year-old Trinidad and Tobago international limped off with a dead leg 20 minutes into Tuesday night's 3-0 victory over Wigan's second string as he returned from a three-match disciplinary ban.
Manager Steve Bruce will keep his fingers crossed after missing Jones for the clashes with Tottenham, Arsenal and Wigan following his dismissal against West Ham on October 31.
It proved a bad night for defender Russell Anderson too as his return from yet another lengthy injury lay-off ended in a late red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity.
It was left to young striker Ryan Noble to claim the positive headlines with a hat-trick, which included two penalties, in front of the watching Bruce.
