WES BROWN knows all about the benefits of a good run in the FA Cup - after all, he has won it twice.

Brown picked up Cup Final winners' medals in 1999 and 2004 while at Manchester United, and is confident of his new employers Sunderland making decent progress in the competition, starting this weekend against Middlesbrough.

And the centre-half said: "It is a big tie for me. It will be a good match. Middlesbrough are doing OK at the minute - despite losing at Coventry.

"The fans will be really up for it and this type of tie makes it all the more exciting - that's what the FA Cup is all about."

Sunderland host Boro at the Stadium of Light on Sunday, a fixture which has been highly-anticipated since both teams were drawn together a fortnight ago.

But the 29-year-old former England international admitted that he is not getting carried away with the sideshow of a North-East derby.

"If I'm being honest, I don't really get involved in the derby stuff. I've just been thinking about the next game since the draw was made and I suppose we'll be thinking about this cup-tie now that it is our next game.

"A cup run would be great - we've got a good chance and if we could beat Middlesbrough and move on to the next stage then it brings us a step closer to Wembley."

If Sunderland do progress to the fifth round on Sunday, it looks likely that it will be without the help of Nicklas Bendtner, who is undergoing tests after suffering a facial injury during his side's 2-0 win against Swansea City.

The Danish international took Angel Rangel's boot in his face and had to be replaced by Connor Wickham with 12 minutes on the clock, and while it was confirmed by the club yesterday that he has suffered a broken nose, Bendtner is being assessed for any lasting damage to the eye or the eye socket.

The head of the club's medical department, Dr Glen Rae, said: "The results of the scans have been received and Nicklas will now undergo further treatment.

"Sunderland Royal Hospital provided a first-class response and I would like to thank them for their assistance."