Ejaria set to be thrown into the Lions’ den
ON-LOAN MIDFIELDER GIVES CATS A BOOST AHEAD OF TRIP TO MILLWALL
ON-LOAN Liverpool midfielder Ovie Ejaria could be back in contention for Sunderland’s trip to Millwall this afternoon.
Black Cats’ boss Chris Coleman says teenage striker Joel Asoro will also be fit to face the Lions - providing he sufferers no reaction to a knock he suffered in last weekend’s draw against Middlesbrough.
However, Kazenga LuaLua will again miss out with the ankle injury which has kept him out of the last three games.
Coleman said: “Kaz trained yesterday, which was his first session - I think this weekend will be too early for him if I am honest.
“Joel Asoro took a whack late on against Middlesbrough, came through a session and hopefully does not react to it.
“We have three games in a week so we may need to be careful with him but he should be OK.
“Ovie trained very well, had a little bit of discomfort but hopefully there will be no reaction and he will be in contention.” Paddy McNair limped off with a groin injury against Boro and will be sidelined for two or three weeks while Marc Wilson (groin) and Robbin Ruiter (dislocated finger) are also still out of action. Coleman said: “It was disappointing to see Paddy go off because he gives us presence and power and he is going to be out for at least another two weeks. “Marc Wilson is still a no. Robbin is going to be out for the rest of the season we think.” On-loan Boro striker Ashley Fletcher is available again this weekend after sitting it out last weekend because he was ineligible to play against his parent club. The Black Cats will also be forced into a defensive change with Jake ClarkeSalter beginning a three-game ban following his red card against Boro.
Clarke-Salter’s absence means Ty Browning is likely to return to the side after a two-game absence.
Coleman added: “Ty has trained well. It is his first full season and he has played most of his career at rightback and has now been converted to a centre-half.
“He has had really good games but he is still young – only 22 or 23 – and he is in uncharted territory, so we took him out to give him a little rest.
“It is a shame we have lost Jake because in the last few games he has looked the real deal. Last week he looked really good alongside John O’Shea and Lamine Kone.
“We will not have him for three games so it is a chance for Ty to come back into the team, step up to it and fulfil the potential he has.”
Browning has sat out the last two games after a poor display in the 2-0 home defeat against Brentford but Coleman believes the break will have done the on-loan Everton man some good. He said: “If you are 28 or 29 yu have been there and seen it before, you know what it is about game-in, gameout and you can cope with the situation. “However, if you have never been in it it can be quite tough. “Looking at that game against Brentford, Ty was a little bit indecisive but he is still learning and he will be stronger for that experience of being with us here in this relegation dogfight and being with us in those uncomfortable moments. “It is the best learning experience he is going to have– much better than being with Everton’s Under-23s, playing that type of football. “It is being here with us where he is going to learn. “Jake Clarke-Salter too and Ovie Ejaria and Ashley Fletcher. “They will be better for it at the end of the season. “They are going to have good games and bad games. “Brentford was not Ty’s best game but if he gets another chance he has enough about him to take it.”