Davies, Diouf back as Whites shoot for safety

4:55pm Saturday 3rd May 2008

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KEVIN Davies and El-Hadji Diouf returned to give Wanderers a major attacking boost against Sunderland at the Reebok in a game that could secure their Premiership future.

Davies, free from suspension, was nursing a broken hand following his eventful, match-winning performance against West Ham three weeks ago, while Diouf, dropped to substitute for the games at Middlesbrough and Spurs, was back in the starting 11 for what could be his final game at the Reebok.

The Senegal striker stated recently that he would be on his way in the summer, regardless of the division Wanderers were in and Gary Megson as good as confirmed that in the build-up to the game when he asked him to sign off in style.

There was no place, though, for Ivan Campo or Joey O'Brien. They both failed fitness tests on calf and hamstring injuries respectively and failed to make the squad.

Abdoulaye Meite, however, was named among the substitutes for the first time since he controversially refused to go out for the second half of the 2-0 defeat at Manchester United on March 19.

Jonny Evans, on loan from Manchester United, returned from injury as Sunderland looked for a strong finish to the season after ensuring their survival with a 3-2 home win against North-east rivals, Middlesbrough, last week.

Defeat for Reading at home to Spurs and victory for Fulham over Birmingham meant Wanderers went into the game still clear of the bottom three, knowing a victory would all-but ensure Premiership football at the Reebok, save for a catastrophic turn of events on the last day of the season.

Wanderers: Al-Habsi; Steinsson, Cahill, Andy O'Brien, Samuel; McCann; Diouf, Nolan, Guthrie, Taylor; Davies. Subs: Meite, Stelios, Cohen, Rasiak, Walker.

Sunderland: Gordon; Collins, Nosworthy, Evans, Higginbotham; Richardson, Whitehead, Miller, Reid; Chopra, Jones. Subs: Murphy, Leadbitter, Yorke, O'Donovan, Fulop.

Referee: Martin Atkinson (Yorkshire).