Thome not out for season

Thome is suffering from a knee problem that has seen him sidelined for a large chunk of the campaign already.

He has endured two operations in an attempt to cure the complaint but he has not played for The Black Cats since New Year's Day.

There had been fears that the 29-year-old's latest setback would curtail his season but Reid is optimistic he will be back in a Sunderland shirt before the campaign's conclusion.

Reid said: "We hope to get him fit before the end of the season and we have certainly got strength at the back."