Sunderland dealt double boost ahead of Manchester United clash

Gus Poyet has expressed his relief at the news that Sunderland can select Wes Brown and John O'Shea for the first leg of their Capital One Cup semi-final tie against Manchester United on Tuesday.

The former Red Devils duo are fit to face their old club, with O'Shea returning from a four-game layoff, and manager Poyet believes that having the defensive pair in the side will significantly improve their chances of reaching a Wembley final.

"It's experience. We are playing against a team that they know very well, they have been in this situation before, semi-finals," Poyet said in his press conference.

"When they play together, they understand each other. We were doing very well and not conceding goals at all with those two, so it's clear at the moment that if they are fit, they have got a little bit more of a chance than the rest."

Poyet is able to name the pair at the heart of his defence for the first time since December 21.