Kone fitness boost for Cats ahead of Elland Road trip

Sunderland have been handed a boost with the return to training of Lamine Kone.

The centre-back missed Monday’s 3-1 home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday with a groin injury picked up in the second half of the Good Friday win over Derby County.

Manager Chris Coleman admitted in the aftermath of the Easter Monday defeat that he was unsure when Kone (pictured) would return, but he was back in training at the Academy of Light yesterday.

The Sunderland boss hopes to be able to call upon him for the trip to Elland Road tomorrow to face injury-hit Leeds United.

Coleman said: “Lamine trained [yesterday]. So, it’s been a good recovery from the weekend.

“He trained and his chances should be OK for the weekend.”

Coleman paired skipper John O’Shea with fit-again Marc Wilson against the Owls, but there could be another d efensive reshuffle should Kone be fit to start. The other option is Chelsea loanee Jake Clarke-Salter, who is available again after serving a two-game suspension.

The England U21 international was sent off against Preston North End last month, in his first game back after a ban, after seeing red against Middlesbrough.

Bryan Oviedo and Brendan Galloway trained but didn’t complete the session and will be assessed ahead of the Leeds game.

Sunderland are secondbottom, eight points adrift of safety, and Coleman knows only a win will do. He said: “We’ve got to try and win the game, plain and simple.

“Coming back from Elland Road with a draw, we’re going to be disappointed. Normally you’d think that’s a good point.

“Where we are, we’ve got to win the game.”