Ross full of hope players ready to return
LOOVENS AND MATTHEWS COULD BE BACK IN ACTION AGAINST FLEETWOOD
GLENN Loovens and Adam Matthews are likely to come back into contention for Sunderland’s game against Fleetwood Town tomorrow.
Centre-back Loovens came off at half-time with a groin problem in the Black Cats’ win at AFC Wimbledon the week before last, while fullback Matthews has been missing since the win over Scunthorpe United due to a knock.
But Sunderland manager Jack Ross is hopeful they will be available again for tomorrow’s game.
“Both are very close, and will probably be under consideration for the weekend as long as everything goes well for the rest of the week,” he said.
“It’s just a question of balancing up what they have done recently [in terms of training] and what other options we have.”
Versatile defender Tom Flanagan is also set to be included in the squad after the summer signing made his belated debut in the midweek Checkatrade Trophy game against Stoke City U21s, after recovering from the groin injury he suffered in pre-season.
Ross said: “He was the one I probably felt most sorry for when he picked up his injury because I’d asked a lot of him in pre-season, when we were really short in that central defensive area.
“But I thought he stepped up to it really well and had looked better and better with every game, so to get that injury at that stage so close to the start of the season and quite a bad injury as well – was unfortunate.
“He has come back a lot quicker than expected which is testament to his desire. “And to see him play 90 minutes on Tuesday said a lot about his conditioning levels, and he looked fit.” With Jerome Sinclair also in contention after returning from a hamstring problem in midweek, and with fit-again Charlie Wyke making his debut last week, Sunderland’s injury situation appears to be clearing up at last with only longtermers Aiden McGeady (calf) and Duncan Watmore (cruciate ligament) still sidelined. Ross said: “As far as Aiden is concerned, this is probably the most positive he has been with the work he has been able to do since he came back.
“He’s had several setbacks but where is now is certainly the furthest he has been down the line as far as getting back to full fitness is concerned.
“Duncan is also continuing to progress well.
“The thing with Duncan is that, as much as we would all want him to be back involved, we owe him a duty of care to make sure he is handled properly because he has had two serious injuries and we need to make sure he is eased back in.
“He is getting closer, though, and he is positive about how he is progressing.
“We’re looking healthier, which is good.”
Sunderland will be without Bryan Oviedo this weekend due to his international call-up for Costa Rica, while Bali Mumba is on duty with England U18s and Benji Kimpioka is away on duty with Sweden U18s.