Danny Welbeck has said that he is satisfied with the club's clean sheet against West Ham United and says that he is looking forward to more such performances. With Bramble and Turner both ruled out until the New Year with long-term knee injuries, Anton Ferdinand and a barely-fit John Mensah have been paired together in central defence for the last two games.

And after a shaky showing in the 3-2 defeat at Wolves 10 days ago, they looked much more solid in the 1-0 win over the Hammers at the weekend.

That clean sheet was Sunderland’s first since Bramble suffered cartilage damage in the build-up to the 2-2 draw with Everton a fortnight ago, but Welbeck believes the Anton Ferdinand-Mensah part-nership will get stronger with each game they play.

“Whoever comes into the side are going to do their job to the best of their ability,” said Danny Welbeck.