Higginbotham: Close to Potters return
Sky Sports News understands Sunderland defender Danny Higginbotham is on the verge of returning to Stoke.
Higginbotham is reported to be travelling to the Britannia Stadium on Monday evening to undergo a medical and discuss personal terms after Sunderland accepted a bid in the region of £2.5million.
Stoke are thought to be keen for the 29-year-old, who plays in the centre of defence for Sunderland, to fill a role at left-back and are hoping to push the deal through ahead of the transfer deadline.
Higginbotham spent the 2006/07 season with the Potters and captained the club following the departure of Michael Duberry to Reading.
The former Manchester United player joined Sunderland in 2007 after signing a four-year deal and has made 21 appearances for the Black Cats.

Sunderland 3-1 Birmingham - Merson
Sunderland 3-1 Birmingham - McLeish
Sunderland 3-1 Birmingham - Bruce
Sunderland 1-1 Man City - FanZone Highlights
Sunderland 1-1 Man City - Sunderland FanZoner
Sunderland 1-1 Man City - Man City FanZoner
Sunderland 1-1 Man City - Mancini
Sunderland 1-1 Man City - Gordon
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Wednesday 24th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Aston Villa vs Sunderland |
| Sunday 28th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 16:00 | Liverpool vs Sunderland |
| Saturday 3rd April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Tottenham |
| Saturday 10th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Sunderland |
| Saturday 17th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Burnley |
| Saturday 24th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Hull vs Sunderland |
| Saturday 1st May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Man Utd |
| Sunday 9th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Wolverhampton vs Sunderland |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Saturday 20th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 3 - 1 Birmingham | |
| Sunday 14th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 1 - 1 Man City | |
| Tuesday 9th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 4 - 0 Bolton | |
| Sunday 28th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 0 - 0 Fulham | |
| Saturday 20th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Arsenal 2 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Tuesday 9th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Portsmouth 1 - 1 Sunderland | |
| Saturday 6th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 1 - 1 Wigan | |
| Monday 1st February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 0 - 0 Stoke | |
| Wednesday 27th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Everton 2 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Saturday 23rd January | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Portsmouth 2 - 1 Sunderland | |
| Saturday 16th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 7 - 2 Sunderland | |
| Saturday 2nd January | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Sunderland 3 - 0 Barrow | |
| Monday 28th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 2 - 2 Sunderland | |
| Saturday 26th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 1 - 1 Everton | |
| Saturday 19th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man City 4 - 3 Sunderland | |
| Tuesday 15th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 0 - 2 Aston Villa | |
| Saturday 12th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 1 - 1 Portsmouth | |
| Sunday 6th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Fulham 1 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Saturday 28th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wigan 1 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Saturday 21st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 1 - 0 Arsenal | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Fulham | 29 | 38 |
| 11 | Stoke City | 30 | 36 |
| 12 | Sunderland | 30 | 34 |
| 13 | Blackburn Rovers | 29 | 34 |
| 14 | Bolton Wanderers | 31 | 32 |
Paul Merson saw Darren Bent bag a brace on Saturday - and says Fabio Capello should take notice.
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Steve Bruce believes Darren Bent should go to the World Cup after scoring a brace against Birmingham.
Paul Merson saw Darren Bent bag a brace on Saturday - and says Fabio Capello should take notice.
Sunderland managed to avoid yet another late sucker-punch to beat Birmingham 3-1.
Arsenal beat West Ham to go top of the table, Iain Dowie started his Hull City reign with a dramatic defeat and Spurs tightened their grip on fourth.
Steve Bruce has described Sunderland's clash against Birmingham as 'season defining'.