Steve Bruce has confirmed that George McCartney will still join Leeds United on loan despite Sunderland's ongoing defensive problems.
The Black Cats boss had already sanctioned the 29-year-old Northern Ireland player's departure to Elland Road before allegations against defender Titus Bramble came to light in the media on Wednesday.
However Bruce insists that McCartney will be still be on his way to West Yorkshire and Bramble will have to play on against Liverpool this Saturday.
The problems for the Wearsiders does not end with Bramble as Anton Ferdinand, John Mensah and Michael Turner are all injured and are unlikely to be fit for the trip to Anfield.
And a hamstring problem for Kieran Richardson means Bruce does not have a senior specialist left-back at his disposal if McCartney leaves.
However Bruce told the Journal: "We're a little bit short in defence, but I still think George needs to go out and play some games. I think that is in his best interests and ours so we'll let him go to Leeds.
"Anton Ferdinand has picked up a hamstring injury, Michael Turner and John Mensah are definitely out and we are just waiting to see how Kieran Richardson is.
"He would probably have come off in normal circumstances, but we'd used all our subs the other night and he stayed on. Hopefully he'll be okay."