BRAZILIAN central defender Emerson Thome, sent off in Sunderland's final pre-season friendly in Holland last Friday night, will not be banned for the big derby game against Newcastle at St. James' Park a week on Saturday.

The £4.5m club record buy does face a three-match suspension following his red card in the 4-0 defeat at the hands of NAC Breda, but the FA revealed yesterday the ban will not come into force until 14 days after the receipt of details of his dimissal from the Dutch FA, a procedure which normally takes around ten days.

An FA spokesman said: "Suspensions normally take effect 14 days after the offence, but where a player is sent off abroad we await the receipt of the report from the appropriate football association and any suspension comes into force 14 days later.

"Arsenal's Patrick Vieira was sent off in Holland before the start of last season and the report took about ten days to reach us.

"In this case it could be a couple of weeks into the season before any suspension starts."

He added: "A dismissal for a double-footed challenge would be serious foul play, which carries an automatic three match suspension."

If the referee's report is received by the FA within ten days Thome's ban would start next month, probably ruling him out of the games against Blackburn Rovers (home, September 8), Aston Villa (away, September 15) and Tottenham Hotspur (home, September 19).

Sunderland, who go into the opening game of the season against Ipswich Town at the Stadium of Light on Saturday without the services of suspended Scottish international Don Hutchison, are already in disciplinary trouble after having more fouls recorded against them than any other Premiership side last season.

The club will appear before an FA committee in London a week on Friday and could be fined £50,000, suspended for 12 months.

Sunderland striker Niall Quinn and midfielder Stefan Schwarz have been withdrawn from the Republic of Ireland and Swedish squads due to play in tomorrow night's friendlies against Croatia and South Africa because of slight injuries picked up in Holland last week.

Both are expected to be available for the opening Premiership game against Ipswich.

Wolves are giving a trial to former Sunderland winger Nicky Summerbee.

The 29-year-old is a free agent after leaving Bolton, and Wolves manager Dave Jones watched him in action against Birmingham reserves last night.

''Nicky asked if we would take a look at him and we've agreed to let him play for us tonight,'' said Jones, who also saw Carlton Palmer join the club in training yesterday.

Coventry still hold the former England midfielder's registration but Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey was hoping to see a deal worked out.

He said: ''We are looking to conclude a deal that will see Carlton coming in to Wolves for an initial loan spell.'

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