RICKY Sbragia is set to hand Carlos Edwards the task of supplying the bullets to help Kenwyne Jones and Djibril Cissé shoot down Hull City this afternoon after urging him to “believe” he is a Premier League player.

The enigmatic Edwards’ form has been hit and miss since he starred in Sunderland’s promotion from the Championship two years ago, but Sbragia sees him as a player capable of unlocking top-flight defences. The issue is whether Edwards himself does – and Sbragia has been working on convincing the Trinidad & Tobago flier that he is more than just a fringe man.

Recalling him for the Manchester United defeat in place of the under-par Steed Malbranque was a start and Sbragia believes he was repaid with a performance of intensity and endeavour.

Now he wants to see the same again in a game that Sunderland must take to opponents low on confidence after defeat to Middlesbrough last weekend.

If, as expected, Edwards gets the nod, he is likely to find Kieran Richardson and Teemu Tainio manning the midfield alongside him, with Andy Reid on the left flank.

Tainio, according to Sbragia, provides Premier League cunning and will be the “first name on the team sheet” if he can retain his fitness for the rest of the campaign.

Sbragia sees both as vital for the visit of the Tigers – but it is Edwards who he needs to be brave as Sunderland look to put their opponents on the back foot from the off. “Carlos has got something. Whether he believes in what he’s got is another thing,” Sbragia admitted.