Cats are left sweating on the fitness of schemer Scowen

JOSH Scowen has undergone an X-ray on the shin injury he suffered at the weekend – with head coach Lee Johnson admitting it could go either way as the medical team determine the extent of the problem.

The midfielder was substituted midway through the second half of Sunderland’s 4-0 win at Lincoln and after the game Johnson said Scowen had felt ‘shooting pains’ on the muscle at the side of his shin.

If the X-ray finds a serious issue, the fear is Scowen could be out of action for up to four weeks.

If he is given the all-clear, Johnson says he could yet be available to play in tonight’s night’s home game against AFC Wimbledon.

Johnson said: “Josh needed an X-ray. We are waiting for the results and then the breakdown from the specialist.

“It could go either way this one – it could be a three or four-weeker or he could be fit for the Wimbledon game, we are not sure yet.

“Hopefully we will get the best-case scenario but my experience of moments like this is that it is often the worst-case scenario.”

Striker Lynden Gooch is not yet ready to return from a hamstring problem while defender Jordan Willis is continuing to work his way towards fitness after having an injection last month to ease an ongoing knee issue.

However, forward Aiden O’Brien has recovered from a groin injury and is back training with the first-team squad, meaning he could be involved tonight.

With a number of players nursing minor knocks, Johnson will leave it late before settling on his line-up against AFC Wimbledon.