WINGER Matthew Piper is ready to offer Sunderland manager Howard Wilkinson a fresh option for Saturday's FA Cup fifth-round clash with Watford at the Stadium of Light.

Piper made his comeback as a second-half substitute in last Saturday's 4-1 defeat at Tottenham.

It was his first appearance since undergoing a hernia operation in November.

The £3.5m signing from Leicester also figured in the Reserves' 1-0 win over Newcastle on Monday, and is now eager to impress.

He said: "I feel good and I'm ready to play if the manager wants me. I was surprised to come on at Tottenham because I had not played a reserve game and my fitness was lacking.

"But I felt much better in the Reserves on Monday and I want to get involved now. I feel I've got a lot to show the fans here."

Jason McAteer is also in line to make a timely return after an even longer stretch on the sidelines.

The midfielder suffered a similar injury to Piper and hasn't featured in the first team since the 2-0 defeat at Newcastle in September.

But he made his comeback against the Magpies in this week's second-string derby and is on stand-by to replace Gavin McCann, who is struggling to shake off a calf strain.

"Jason and I had exactly the same type of hernia problem, the sort that is uncommon in football," said Piper.

"It's a funny coincidence that we're back at exactly the same time."

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