Sunderland Ghanaian defender John Mensah is hoping to stay in the team for the game against Fulham on Sunday.

Mensah returned for the defeat at Arsenal last weekend following a spell on the sidelines but the injury problems seem to persist.

Sunderland assistant manager Erik Black says his recurrent injury problems are being managed by the club.

"We've managed John throughout the week," Black said.

"He's done very well in almost every game he's played so obviously we want him in the team.

"We're still four or five days' training away so we can't say for definite."