SUNDERLAND boss Phil Parkinson is taking suggestions of an injury crisis at tomorrow’s opponents, Oxford United, with a large pinch of salt.

The build-up to the game at the Kassam Stadium has been dominated by talk of Karl Robinson’s lack of available players.

Matty Taylor, Josh Ruffels, Sam Winnall, Mark Sykes, Alex Gorrin and Jamie Hanson are all reportedly unavailable, while Robert Atkinson is suspended.

Parkinson accepts it could be a good time to be meeting an Oxford side that were only denied promotion last season when they lost in the play-off final, but he will not be surprised if a few of the Us ‘walking wounded’ make it onto the field.

“It’s a good opportunity for us, without doubt,” he said. “It’s a good chance for us, although last time we went there they spoke about how many injuries they had, and then we turned up and there weren’t quite as many.

“We won’t be getting lulled into that too much, but if we play how we can, and how we have, but just improve in that final third, then we’ll have a great chance.”

Sunderland are without the suspended George Dobson, so Parkinson will have to decide whether to name Grant Leadbitter or Josh Scowen alongside Max Power at the heart of midfield.

Sunderland (probable, 3-4-3): Burge; Willis, Wright, Flanagan; O’Nien, Leadbitter, Power, Hume; Maguire, Grigg, O’Brien.