SUNDERLAND defender Jody Craddock is set to miss tomorrow's relegation battle at West Ham United with a thigh injury, writes Steven Baker.

Mick McCarthy is reluctant to risk Craddock for the crucial fixture, even though he has responded to treatment on the problem.

The centre-back also sat out McCarthy's first match in charge, against Bolton Wanderers last Saturday, and the Sunderland manager wants him fit for the run-in.

McCarthy said last night: "Jody Craddock trained today, but I don't think rushing him back would be the right way forward. I'm erring on the side of caution.

"We've got a two-week break after Saturday's game, and it might be that Jody would play one game, and then we'd find out he wasn't right.

"I might get him back for one game and then lose him for four games; I'd sooner he were fully fit and I had him for seven games."

Kevin Kilbane is available for the trip to Upton Park after missing the Bolton defeat through illness.

But Jason McAteer, pictured inset, is still out with a hamstring injury, while Gavin McCann will serve the second game of a two-match suspension.

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