Keane takes injury woes in stride

Roy Keane has played down Sunderland's growing injury list by insisting it opens the door for other players to stake their claim.Chris Brown (ankle) has joined a growing casualty list which includes David Connolly (thigh), Stephen Elliott (ankle), Daryl Murphy (hamstring) and Jon Stead (thigh).

Brown and Stead could yet be passed fit to face Ipswich but there are doubts over Stan Varga (hip) and Kenny Cunningham (groin).

Steve Caldwell remains sidelined with a long-term injury and Stephen Wright will be out until Christmas after undergoing surgery on an ankle injury.

However, Keane said: "These things happen, it doesn't worry me that much, every manager at every club has difficult situations.

"Unfortunately for us it seems to be hitting the strikers, but it's just a case of getting on with it. Every day at the training ground we look at it, look at the players we have and there's a different challenge.

"We've had a couple of the younger lads training with us and it gives us the opportunity to work with them. Injuries open the door for someone else."

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