KIERAN RICHARDSON was rushed back from injury because of Sunderlands Premier League plight, and now Nyron Nosworthy could be asked to complete his own premature return.

Richardson made his first appearance C albeit as a substitute C for four months in the Boxing Day defeat to Manchester United after recovering from a stress fracture of the back.

Ideally manager Roy Keane would have given the midfielder some extra reserve team outings to build up his fitness but the clubs relegation crisis put paid to those hopes.

Ideally he wont start against Bolton. Hes nowhere near match fit, said Keane, whose side face the Trotters at the Stadium of Light this afternoon.

We just felt as though we should get him back involved.

Hes trained really well during the last three or four weeks and he gives us that bit of pace and sharpness that weve been lacking.

Hell be involved, we hope, over the next few days and weeks. Its just the way we are at the moment that were trying to bring players back a lot quicker than we hoped. But beggars cant be choosers.

It is a similar situation to that faced by Nosworthy. The defender has been out with a hamstring problem since the draw with Newcastle on November 11.

But, after showing positive signs in training, Keane has admitted that h e c o u l d be forced to play Nosworthy in the first team again, without having the chance to hand him more minutes for the reserves.

Whether Nosworthys chance arrives today remains to be seen. Id say another week or so for Nyron but maybe we will have to inch him back in sooner, said Keane, whose side face Wigan in the FA Cup third round a week today.

Thats the position were in.

were bringing players back now without any match practice and everyone will tell you that you do need games under your belt as well as training.

So I am being unfair to some of the lads but were in a position where everyone has to roll their sleeves up C the injured lads, the staff etc. Everyone is doing that and it gives us a chance.

ö Boltons Joey OBrien is backing Roy Keane to keep Sunderland in the top flight.

The Republic of Ireland fullback comes face to face with his boyhood idol today at the Stadium of Light.

Dublin-born OBrien said: I am sure Roy will turn it around C hopefully after they have played us.

They have some good players at Sunderland and I know a few of the Irish lads.

I do not know Roy as a person C I grew up watching him play.

He was in the centre of midfield, a position I used to play, and he was someone you would look up to.

As a manager he can only do so much. When it comes to 3pm it is down to the players.

OBrien, 21, is anxious to be involved after coming off the bench in the defeat by Everton following a sevenweek lay off with a hamstring injury.

That setback came after a lengthy absence with a knee problem.

He said: I thought all the bad times were behind me earlier this season.

Hopefully I can stay fit. But I will probably need a couple more matches to get properly match fit.

It is a massive game for us and Sunderland.

At home we are very good but we cant seem to get back to back wins.