WITH 5,000 Sunderland fans travelling to the Reebok Stadium today, Martin O'Neill insists he will field a team capable of doing their away support justice in today's FA Cup third round tie with Bolton Wanderers.

In recent years, it has become more and more common for top-flight clubs to field weakened teams in the competition with managers citing league or European competitions as their priorities.

O'Neill isn't one to follow that mantra, though, and insists that although his squad is depleted through injury, he will field as strong a side as possible in a bid to reach the next round.

"I think it's (the number of fans travelling) remarkable," the Black Cats boss said.

"Even the crowd we had at Liverpool. It's phenomenal. I genuinely don't know how they do it.

"Of course it's (the FA Cup) a priority to the fans. You don't want to be letting people down, for sure. We'll give it everything we've got, whatever side we've got.

"Even if I was in a position to rotate more, I'd still want to give it the respect it was due."

With injuries affecting his squad, O'Neill won't be able to field his strongest starting XI, but is boosted by the news that Danny Rose is fit and available to play.

The left-back - on loan from Tottenham - was unwell during Wednesday night's defeat at Liverpool, but O'Neill revealed he has recovered and could start.

He said: "They'll (Tottenham) allow him to play in the competition. Obviously if we play them it's a different thing.

"We were all in yesterday and he's feeling better than he was before the Liverpool game, so it's encouraging from that point of view.

"Maybe in normal circumstances Danny wouldn't have played against Liverpool. He was struggling but he gave it a go. He wasn't his usual self but he played for the cause of the team, which was good."

One player the Black Cats boss is likely to rest is Stephane Sessegnon, who was withdrawn at half-time at Anfield with an ankle problem.

"He came off against Liverpool and he's still a little sore," O'Neill revealed. "We'll see how he is along with Danny (Rose).

"He rocked his ankle. He's had it before, he's in a bit of pain so there was no point in him continuing (against Liverpool)."

With a few players missing through injury and the potential for more to leave during January, O'Neill admits he is working hard on transfer targets.

Ji Dong-Won has already joined FC Augsberg on loan, while David Meyler is subject of a bid from Hull City.

Tigers boss Steve Bruce is also rumoured to be keen on taking Fraizer Campbell to the KC Stadium, and O'Neill admits his squad is looking stretched.

"We need to do it," the Black Cats boss said. "David Meyler - it looks as if that's going to materialise now. Ji has gone out on loan. We don't have that many left and we need to get some numbers in if we can.

"We need to improve the quality of the squad and the numbers, if that's possible. We'll try to utilise this month. There's loads of names been bandied about - we need to try and do something about (the squad)."

Today's opponents sit 22 places behind Sunderland in the English league system, but O'Neill insists Dougie Freedman's side won't give his side an easy ride.

He said: "Bolton away is not the sort of place you would usually like to start.

"We're a league apart but this time last year we were in the same league. The last game of the season things conspired against them and on another day things may have gone their way and they may have even still been in the Premier League.

"It wasn't to be, it's been tough for them this season -almost inevitably tough - and they're still capable of pulling themselves together and putting a run together."