CHRIS Mepham avoided serious injury at Burnley, trained on Monday morning and is available to face Derby County on Tuesday night.

It's a major boost for Sunderland, who, after Aji Alese's injury earlier this month, feared a further defensive setback when Mepham was forced off late on at Turf Moor with a hamstring issue.

But the Bournemouth loanee was assessed over the weekend and quickly managed to shake off the problem.

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"Chris is feeling good,” said Sunderland's head coach.

“He trained this morning and there was no problem.”

The Mepham boost will mean Sunderland won't be forced to dip into the transfer market to strengthen the defence, and can instead focus on bolstering their attack between now and the end of the window.

Le Bris said after Alese's injury that one further defensive setback would mean Sunderland looking for reinforcements. But they currently have Mepham, Luke O'Nien and Dan Ballard competing for places at centre-half, while Le Bris has also talked up the importance of Leo Hjelde, who provides further cover at centre-back and left-back.