Gateshead Reserves v Sunderland Reserves - Match Preview

Gateshead reserves field their strongest side of the season tonight, the starting XI all have first team experience, when they host Premier League neighbours Sunderland in the totesport.com League Cup at the International Stadium, kick-off 7pm.

After impressive cameos for the first team Josh Gillies is named on the bench alongside Luke Gilbert and an unamed Dutch trialist, but wide man James Marwood is back on the sidelines due to injury.

There is extensive experience throughout the side with only David Brown and Steven Baptist fledglings in terms of first team football.

Sunderland include Northern Ireland international striker David Healy who has returned to the Stadium of Light after scoring two goals in eight games on loan at Championship club Doncaster Rovers.

Northern Ireland U.21 international Trevor Carson is in goal while coach Keith Bertschin has named four second-year apprentices in a 16 man squad.

"I have been able to name a strong side with a lot of experience," said Gateshead reserves manager Paul Bryson "and it should be a good game against a talented Sunderland side."

Former Sunderland reserves left back Brown goes in against his former club while the Black Cats include midfielder Robbie Weir who has returned to the club following a spell on loan at York City.

Gateshead reserves have rattled up 17 goals in their last five outings and have won one of their two totesport.com League Cup group games.

Gateshead Res: Farman, Baxter, Brown, Jones, White, Baptist, Ferrell, Winn, Nelthorpe, Allan, Wake
Subs: Gillies, Gilbert, Trialist

Sunderland Res: (from) Carson, B.Wilson, Marrs, Egan, knott, Laidler, Weir, Laing, Ladden, Adams, Lynch, Reed, N.Wilson, Luscombe, Healy, Fletcher