Lynch, De Bock set to face Blades
Jack Ross is hoping that Joel Lynch and Laurens De Bock could make their Sunderland debuts next Wednesday.
The pair both featured against Middlesbrough Under-23s on Monday night, playinganhourand90minutes respectively in a 3-2 defeat.
The trip to Bolton Wanderers tomorrow will come too soon for both, while Duncan Watmore remains sidelined with a thigh problem.
Ross is also monitoring a ‘couple’ of players who picked up knocks in the 1-1 draw with Rotherham.
“Duncanisstillunavailable,”Rosssaid.“Laurensand Joelwillprobablycomeinto thesideforSheffieldUnited.
“Wehaveacoupleofconcernswhodidn’ttraintoday. We’ll see how they are.”
Lynch had initially plannedtoplaythefullgame againt Middlesbrough, but came off early with a groin concern.
The centre-back is back in training, though, and so Ross hopes he will be able to sticktohisplaninincluding himinthesquadthattravels to face Sheffield United in theCarabaoCupnextweek.
“He’s OK, he trained today,” Ross said. “He’s effectively going through a pre-season. All being well, I’d like to include him againstSheffieldUnitedand then he’ll be properly at it.”
DeBockhasbeenbehind Lynch after arriving at the club on deadline day, but will not feature when the Under-23s face Swansea City on Sunday.
He too is in line to play some part at Bramall Lane.
“With Laurens, we just plan on him doing his work with us and then hopefully it can be geared towards him being involved in the cup game against Sheffield United,” Ross said.