Wat a boost for Cats as Dunc nears return
STRIKER ON VERGE OF FIRST-TEAM RECALL
DUNCAN Watmore is set to return to action ‘in the very near future’ as his two-year injury nightmare finally draws to a close.
The Sunderland forward has played just a handful of games in almost two years after suffering a ruptured cruciate ligament in December 2016, then a recurrence in November last year after making a shortlived comeback.
However, the 24-year-old has been back in full training for three weeks and, while manager Jack Ross is understandably still taking a cautious approach after two such serious injuries, Watmore is expected to be eased back into action either at first-team or under-23 level in the coming weeks.
Ross said: “Duncan has now done three weeks’ full training and it is pretty much bang-on 11 months since he suffered the most recent injury.
“My understanding is the type of injury he had takes 10-12 months to recover from but there is also an element attached to that which relates to the potential of re-injury.
“The longer you can leave it within that time frame the lower the chances of re-injury.
“That is important and it is why we are looking more towards the longer end of the timescale.
“I think Duncan has appreciated the fact I have been consistent in not rushing him.
“I would expect in the very near future we will get him some game time one way or another and that will be another step forward for him.
“He is feeling really, really, good in terms of his knee.
“He is getting little aches and pains and you will get that across other areas of your body, but to be out 11 months and for him to be where he is is a real positive.
“We have to make sure when he is back he is back properly - for his sake and for ours, but primarily for his sake.”
Watmore and his then-Sunderland teammate Jordan Pickford were part of Gareth Southgate’s England under-21 side which won the Toulon tournament in 2016.
While Pickford has gone on to establish himself as England’s number one at senior level, again under Southgate, Watmore’s injury problems put his career on hold just at the moment he was expected to come into his own. Ross has been impressed with the way Watmore has conducted himself and admits he cannot wait for him to return to full fitness - and hopefully rebuild his career by helping Sunderland win promotion back to the Championship.
Ross added: “How he is as a character and personality has not been in doubt from day one.
“He was one of the first people I met when I came into this job because he was one of the few who was in the building in the summer when I arrived - so we managed to build that relationship quite early.
“I enjoy his company, I enjoy speaking to him and I like his attitude.
“The qualities he brings on the pitch are what I have started to see over the last three weeks.
“I can’t wait for him to be back. I could not find a player of his ilk if I went out looking for one.”
While Watmore is still several weeks away from being involved in the first-team, Ross has added centre-back Glenn Loovens to his squad for the long trip to Plymouth Argyle this weekend.
Loovens suffered a hamstring injury at the end of September but has been back in full training for a fortnight.