Wat a boost for Cats as Duncan is set to return
STRIKER BACK AFTER A NINE-MONTH LAY-OFF
DUNCAN Watmore will return to the Sunderland squad for the first time in nine months as the Black Cats head to Preston this weekend.
The winger has not made a firstteam appearance since rupturing his cruciate ligament in December but has had two outings for the under-23s over the last fortnight as he stepped up his recovery.
Boss Simon Grayson had hinted the 23-year-old had an outside chance of being part of the squad for Tuesday’s game at Ipswich, although in the end he did not travel.
Grayson (pictured) confirmed Watmore would not play for the under-23s against Brighton in the Premier League Cup at Eppleton last night.
While he stopped short of saying that was because he was in the squad travelling to Deepdale, I understand he will make the trip.
While Watmore is highly unlikely to start today, even his presence on the bench at Preston would be a major boost for Grayson as he returns to his former club seeking to halt Sunderland’s eightgame winless streak.
Asked whether Watmore would be part of the squad, Grayson smiled: “You will have to wait and see. Duncan has trained all week. “He might play in the Checkatrade Trophy game at Doncaster on Tuesday. “I think it would have been too early for him to be involved at Ipswich. “He had played on the Sunday for the under-23s and he has a recovery plan where he cannot do too much too soon after a heavy load on his knee. “He has stuck to that plan, he has not missed a training session and we will keep analysing it on a daily basis.” While Watmore is part of the squad, defender Marc Wilson has been ruled out of the game. Grayson added: “Marc will miss the game. “He has been carrying a groin problem for the last two games but has managed to get through, at least until just after half-time on Tuesday night.” John O’Shea or Ty Browning are the likely replacements for Wilson, although Grayson may bring both into the side if he opts to drop Lamine Kone. He said: “I have decisions to make over a lot of players because we have just been beaten 5-2 and we are on a bad run.
“Other players are champing at the bit to come into the team and prove what they are capable of doing.”
Jonny Williams missed the last two games through illness but has trained this week and is in contention, as is Callum McManaman who returned from injury at Ipswich.
Grayson added: “McManaman and Williams have both trained so we will see if they are fit enough and strong enough to get through the 90 minutes or come off the bench.”
The manager also hinted he would keep faith with Jason Steele in goal, having brought him into the side at the expense of Robbin Ruiter at Ipswich.
He said Steele was not at fault for the goals in midweek, adding: “You look at the goalkeeping situation - neither of them has said to me they are the one to grab the shirt and keep it.
“At the start of the season we started quite well when Jason was in the team, then we made a change and we have not won since Robbin came into the side, then we made another change on Tuesday and Jason conceded five.
“It is unfair to focus the criticism on the goalkeepers, though, because I don’t think they have been prone to many errors.”