ADAM MATTHEWS and Billy Jones are battling to start at right-back in Sunderland’s crucial relegation clash with Burton Albion on Saturday, but Bryan Oviedo has joined Lynden Gooch, Donald Love and Joel Asoro on the absentee list.

Sunderland head into their weekend game six points adrift of safety with three games remaining, so could be relegated if they fail to win and Bolton Wanderers and Birmingham City both win their respective fixtures.

A Black Cats win could see them move to within three points of 21st position ahead of their final two matches against Fulham and Wolves though, and Coleman will at least be able to call upon a recognised right-back.

Love has been ruled out for the rest of the season, but both Matthews and Jones trained yesterday and the former is likely to start on the right of a back four at the weekend.

Coleman said: “Donald Love, Joel Asoro, Bryan Oviedo and Lynden Gooch will all miss out. Lynden and Donald won’t play again this season for us, and Joel and Bryan will definitely miss this weekend.

“John O’Shea trained today and came through it with no problems though. Matthews and Jones also trained, and came through without an issue.”

Sunderland’s failure to claim all three points at Reading last weekend means they face a nigh-on-impossible task as they look to avoid dropping into the third tier for only the second time in their history.

Nevertheless, Coleman is refusing to throw in the towel, and insists the most important thing is that his players emerge from Saturday’s game with at least a chance of scrambling to safety intact.

He said: “There’s six points with nine to play for. We’re getting down to it, that’s for sure. Football is funny the way things work out.  We’ve been thrown together, ourselves and Burton, and it’s all on it.

“But our mind-set has to be the same as it’s been in the last six weeks. We’ll be trying to win the game and eradicate any thoughts of fear. We’ve just got to get the job done and make sure we’re still in the fight come Saturday evening.

“The way this season has gone, it was always going to come down to this. Whoever loses could be relegated, it was always going to come down to this. We’ve won two games at home all season and our form has been indifferent and a lot of times poor at the Stadium of Light.

“I’m not surprised it’s come to this. It’s destiny if you like. But it’s all on it, and if you get a result when it’s like that, it’s a great feeling. If we perform and get something, it’s a great feeling and that’s what we’ll be trying to do.”