Premier League preview: Sunderland v Blackpool

Squad depth is Ian Holloway’s biggest worry as his side prepares to take on Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday.

Blackpool’s last two matches, against Tottenham and Liverpool, have been postponed because of a frozen pitch at Bloomfield Road, meaning Holloway’s side a facing a busy month of fixtures ahead.

The Seasiders will play eight games in the next 30 days, starting with a trip to face Steve Bruce’s Sunderland on Tuesday, and Holloway is worried about the impact it will have on his small squad.

“I don’t want a fixture pile up because we obviously don’t have the biggest squad around,” Holloway said.

“But there are loads of clubs in or around the 22-point mark and we don’t want to slip behind them just because we miss games.”

Blackpool are unbeaten in their last four matches and are one of five teams locked on 22 points in the middle of the table.

A win on Tuesday could see them move as high as eighth on the table, but they will have to do it without first-choice goalkeeper Matthew Gilks and veteran striker Marlon Harewood who remain unavailable due to injury.

Despite Sunday’s 2-0 loss to Manchester United, seventh-placed Sunderland remain firmly in contention for a European berth next season.

Manager Bruce will be hoping his recent injury crisis is beginning to ease with the potential returns of Kieran Richardson and Titus Bramble.

Richardson missed the loss to Manchester United on Boxing Day because of illness, while Bramble has been on the comeback trail after a knee injury, and both are in the frame to return against Blackpool.

“We are hoping Kieran will be back, and Titus is back in training so we will see,” Bruce said.

Lee Cattermole will also return to the squad after serving a one match suspension, as will striker Danny Welbeck, who was ineligible to play against parent club Manchester United.

However, Fraizer Campbell (knee), John Mensah (ankle), Michael Turner (knee), Trevor Carson (shoulder) and Matt Kilgallon (back) are all still sidelined by injury.