For a few felines must have been flattened by expensive cars on the drive of the Academy of Light, such has been the depressing bad luck with injuries this season.

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The list of wounded grew again with Kieran Richardson being struck down again by his hamstring problem again and Liam Miller pulling up lame for Ireland against Brazil on Wednesday.

As the extravagant Brazilian commentators mightyell: "Nooooooooooooooo, no, no, no, no – not again!!"

Richardson's problem may have been the result of a gamble that went wrong given that he had been out with the same injury and recovered sooner than expected, but Miller getting crocked at Croke Park added – well, insult to injury as it came during an international friendly.

Miller's calf could have gone at any time – in training or playing for Sunderland – but the fact is that the more time you spend on the pitch, the greater your chance of picking up a problem.

At least Dickson Etuhu's return from the Africa Cup of Nations gives Keane a replacement, but Sunderland will miss a bit of creative quality with Miller and Richardson both sidelined.

And it had to happen before another home six-pointer against fellow survival hopefuls Wigan, who just happen to have claimed a pair of 3-0 triumphs over the Black Cats.

It goes without saying that victory is vital or a place back in the bottom three could be beckoning.

Prediction: Home win