Watmore down but not out of game running
DUNCAN Watmore is a doubt ahead of Sunderland’s game against Southend United – but Phil Parkinson says the pacy wideman has not yet been definitively ruled out.
Watmore – who scored in Sunderland’s 5-0 win over Tranmere 10 days ago – is suffering from a virus but took part in training yesterday.
The Black Cats will make a late decision on his fitness ahead of this afternoon’s clash at the Stadium of Light.
The 25-year-old has missed much of the last three years through injury and is still being eased back, boss Parkinson saying the plan was always to rest him for the midweek Carabao Cup game at Oxford United after he had played three games in a week immediately beforehand.
Parkinson said: “Duncan had played three games in the space of a week so he would not have played at Oxford in any case.
“Then he has had a virus this week - the doctor has seen him and we have to be careful with that. He has come in and done some of the training today - he was keen to get some fresh air and do a bit but we have to assess him.
“Sometimes you pick up viruses when you push your body and maybe your immune system is not strong enough yet.
“It is nothing serious and we just have to assess him, so he is not definitely ruled out of the Southend game.
“He is a player everyone values and he has had a tough time with injury.
“He needs managing the right way because we want Duncan available for the whole season.”
Goalkeeper Lee Burge (thigh), Lynden Gooch (twisted ankle), and Charlie Wyke (ankle ligaments) will all miss out.
However, defender Joel Lynch, who was substituted at Oxford with a knock, has recovered and is available.
Parkinson added: “We tried to get Lynden out on the training pitch this week but he had a bit of a reaction so we have had to hold him back, which is frustrating because he is champing at the bit to get out there.
“Charlie is set to get back out on the grass and run on Monday.
“Lee Burge is still out with a thigh injury and I would probably say he will be another week, but until a goalkeeper starts kicking again you never really know.”
Alim Ozturk and Laurens De Bock have been missing through injury in recent weeks but are now training again and are likely to be in contention for Tuesday night’s EFL Trophy clash with Leicester City Under-21s.
Parkinson said: “Alim and Laurens have both trained this week but they still need to do some work.
“They will be training over the weekend with a view to being involved in Tuesday’s game.”