| News: Bardsley has a shoulder injury and the right-back may not be available for the visit of West Ham United to the Stadium of Light on Saturday. |
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| News: Bardsley has recovered from his illness and with John Mensah collecting a calf injury in training, he may be in line with an early return to the team. |
| Analysis: In the longer-team, it is becoming increasingly clear that Steve Bruce is not entirely content with his fullbacks. |
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| News: Bardsley reported to the Stadium of the Light prior to the victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers but was sent home after being diagnosed with a virus. |
| Analysis: The right-back may now struggle to dislodge John Mensah from the side. |
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| News: Bardsley damaged his knee in the second-half of Sunderland's 4-1 victory over Hull City. |
| Analysis: The right-back was slow to get to his feet following a challenge and was replaced by John Mensah in the 77th minute. He will have treatment this week, although Steve Bruce has other options. |
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| News: Steve Bruce has confirmed that Bardsley has picked up a minor ankle injury. |
| Analysis: The problem is not regarded as significant, but the timing is unhelpful for Sunderland. |
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| News: Bardsley had an evening to forget this week when Sunderland lost 3-1 to Portsmouth, scoring an own goal that put the opposition 2-1 ahead and allowing Armand Traore the room to score his side's third goal. |
| Analysis: Though he was blameless for the own goal, Bardsley was culpable in a poor overall defensive performance from Sunderland. The former Manchester United player is fortunate, then, that the error-prone Paul McShane is probably Ricky Sbragia's best alternative at right back. Expect Bardsley to start against Chelsea on Sunday. |
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| News: Bardsley was Sunderland's best player in the 2-1 defeat by his old club Manchester United, earning eight out of ten for his performance in The Sunday Times. |
| Analysis: The performance will ensure he keeps his place from the versatile Paul McShane, who replaced the central defender Calumn Davenport in the second half. |
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