Sunderland handed Myhre boost

With first choice Thomas Sorensen out with a dislocated elbow Sunderland suffered a major scare when Myhre picked up a thigh problem on international duty with Norway, leaving transfer-listed Jurgen Macho on stand-by.

The former Everton shot-stopper has been ruled out of Wednesday's Euro 2004 qualifier with Bosnia, but he is expected to be fit for the trip to Upton Park as Howard Wilkinson takes charge of his first game as Black Cats boss.

Myhre has been unable to train all week but Norwegian team doctor Lars Engebretsen is confident he will be fully fit in a few days.

"Thomas was able to stand on the leg and had a really good work-out, but he's still not able to run at full speed. Therefore there was no sense in testing the leg on the field," Engebretsen told Norwegian daily Verdens Gang.

"He can almost certainly play again in a few days."