Wat I will not do is rush Duncan back too soon, insists the boss

LEWIS Grabban’s injury will not tempt Simon Grayson to rush Duncan Watmore back into action – with the Sunderland manager insisting he will not ‘play with someone’s livelihood.’

Grayson admits the hamstring problem Grabban picked up in Tuesday night’s defeat against Nottingham Forest has left him short of attacking players - James Vaughan the club’s only available senior out-and-out striker - and he would dearly love to have Watmore to call upon.

Yet with Grayson having already trailed that fit-again Watmore is set to be eased back into action by playing 45 minutes this weekend for the under-23s at Manchester City, he was quick to explain the 23-year-old cannot be thrown in at the deep end with the first team after nine months out with a ruptured cruciate ligament.

He expects it to be another month before Watmore is ready to start games in the Championship, although he may be introduced as a substitute earlier than that depending on his progress.

“I could be playing with someone’s livelihood,” said Grayson, when asked if there was a temptation to bring Watmore back sooner. “There is a high percentage rate of players coming back from a serious injury that there could be repercussions. “I am not prepared to take that risk, I will be guided by the specialists, the fitness department. “It might be 10 minutes here or there or more time in the under-23s. “I would think Duncan Watmore would not start a first team game for another month probably. “I would like him to but I will not play with someone’s livelihood. I am not saying he will not be in and around it, hopefully he will.

“He has been back in with the first team for two or three weeks now and he is looking sharp and strong.

“Of course, it is a different barrier to cross playing again in the first team after a serious injury.”

Midfielder Paddy McNair suffered a similar injury a fortnight before Watmore last season but is slightly behind his teammate on the road to recovery.

However the Northern Ireland international is due to join in with first-team training sessions next week as the next step towards a senior comeback.