Both Kieran Richardson and Phil Bardsley picked up their fourth yellow cards of the season during Sunderland's win over Arsenal last weekend.

The next yellow card either player picks up will trigger an automatic one-match ban.

Already this season club captain Lorik Cana and defender Michael Turner have been victims of the five yellow card rule, whilst Kenwyne Jones and Kieran Richardson have both served bans for picking up red cards.

Steve Bruce has admitted that players picking up suspensions can cause him a selection headache but he would not have them change their style of play.

Bruce said: The two lads [Richardson and Bardsley] are competitive players and that's why they're picking up yellow cards. They do need to tread carefully but at the same time I don't want it to affect their game, or the way they play"

Meanwhile, Michael Turner will be available for selection against Wigan after he served his one-game ban for picking up five yellow cards last weekend.