Loovens back in squad, with others on road to returns

Glenn Loovens will travel with the Sunderland squad to Plymouth Argyle.

The veteran centre back hasn’t played for Sunderland since coming off early in the draw with Coventry City with a hamstring injury.

But now after a couple of weeks of training, Loovens (pictured) is ready to return to the squad.

Boss Jack Ross said: “Glenn will come back into the squad, he has had a couple of weeks of training. He has trained fine. The longer-term players are still unavailable but hopefully each is closer to coming back.”

Summer signing Charlie Wyke remains a few weeks off with his knee injury and while he is slightly ahead of schedule, Ross says Christmas tim eis probably when he returns to action.

Duncan Watmore has now completed three full weeks of first team training and is closing in on a return, the forward has been out for 11-months with a serious knee injury and will step up his return in the coming weeks. Ross is keen to get him some game time in the next phase of his rehab, though it remains to be seen whether that is an U23 game or a behind-closed doors friendly. Ross said: “Charlie is probably slightly ahead of schedule, Christmas time was always the schedule, he feels he may be back earlier than that.

“He feels better than he did before but we are prepared to be patient, we have a bit more depth now.

“Duncan has now completed three weeks full training - a brilliant step forward. We can start to maybe look at getting him some game time, whether that be behind closed doors or an Under-23 game. Hopefully before the end of the year, we’ll have Duncan back.”