SUNDERLAND face a race against the clock to avoid a striker crisis in their tough Premiership game against West Ham United at Upton Park on Saturday.

Stand-in striker Danny Dichio, who has deputised for Niall Quinn in the last two games, is ruled out by an automatic one-match suspension for five bookings and the Republic of Ireland international is struggling to throw off a troublesome back injury.

Quinn, the club's third leading scorer with five goals this season, is having intensive treatment on an injury which has plagued him for the last four months.

Sunderland manager Peter Reid, who saw Dichio score against Ipswich Town in his first Premiership start since he joined the club from Sampdoria three years ago, said: "Danny has done well since coming in for Niall and it is a blow to lose him through suspension.

"It is important that we get Quinny right for the game at West Ham."

Reid is hoping that skipper Michael Gray, a Premiership ever-present this season, will return against West Ham after missing the goalless FA Cup Third Round home tie against Crystal Palace.

The 26-year-old fullback has been nursing a knee injury for some time, playing through the pain barrier, but Reid decided it was time the England international was given a break from competitive action.

Reid said: "Michael has been carrying an injury and you can only ask a player to do so much.

"He played four games in ten days and has done really well for us but I felt it was just too much for him to play against Crystal Palace.

"We had a chat about leaving him out and I think he realised he needed a rest."

Gray should return at Upton Park, enabling Chris Makin to switch back to his normal role at right back and Reid could decide to revert to his regular back four by recalling Jody Craddock to the centre of defence in place of Slovakian international Stanislav Varga, who faces an automatic one-match ban against Bardford City next week following his last minute dismissal in the cup-tie for a professional foul.

Sunderland could soon be parting with two players who are not involved in the first team squad, centre-back Paul Butler, and out-of-favour Honduran Milton Nunez.

Butler, who spent a month on loan at Wolves, is believed to be wanted by new Molineux manager Dave Jones. Wolves are badly short of central defensive cover, has spoken to Reid about Butler, who came close to completing a £1m move to the Midlands club before the sacking of previous manager Colin Lee.

Honduran club Olympia have made tenative inquiries about Nunez, who has made only on League appearance as substitute since his £1.5m transfer last season from Greek side PAOK Salonika.

Nunez, who spent a week's trial at Aston Villa but failed to impress manager John Gregory, is unhappy about his position on Wearside and could move on if an acceptable offer is forthcoming. Olympia have spoken to the player's agent, Pablo Betancourt, but a spokesman for the Central Ameriucan club said: "At the moment the possibility of signing Nunez is far from certain."