Willis positive knee issues can be managed so he can make an impact
Jordan Willis is confident that he can manage his knee issue after playing a pivotal role in back-to-back clean sheets and wins for Sunderland.
Willis says he is feeling 'really good' after being substituted early in the 2-1 defeat to Plymouth Argyle last week.
The 26-year-old is managing patellar tendonitis, and though he has missed little action since arriving at Sunderland in the summer of 2019, a spell on the sidelines earlier this season had a notable impact on the balance of the Black Cats defence.
Sunderland are paying close attention to his workload, but Willis is training well and is confident that he can continue to have an impact.
"I'm feeling really good," he said.
"It's just an injury that can just flare up every now and then, but I've been training really well and that's two sets of 90 minutes now, so hopefully that can continue.
"It's a bit frustrating at times obviously but at the same time, we're doing everything we can to make sure I get out there on the pitch and at the minute, it's working."
Willis says a 1-0 win over Ipswich Town represented a step forward for the Black Cats, as they battled a familiar issue in breaking down a deep-lying defence after Kayden Jackson's early red card.
It's an ongoing process
for Sunderland and Willis is confident that there are signs Lee Johnson is managing to implement his style on the squad.
"We're happy with the result," Willis said.
"They made it difficult for us, frustrated us.
"They didn't replace the striker and that made it hard for us to break them down but we managed to do that and after
that it was about staying switched on, putting in a professional performance, not conceding.
“You have to try and not get frustrated, move the ball from side to side as frustrating as it is, and eventually something opens up.
"When a team sits in they want you to force the play I think, to try and then catch you out on the counter.
"So we were professional. I did think we created enough chances, we did open them up in spells.
"We managed to do that for the goal. They did frustrate us but at the end of the day, we got the clean sheet and we got the win.
"I think we're enjoying it at the moment, you can see us trying to put the manager's ideas in place on a matchday.
"We'll keep working at it and implementing it on the pitch."
Sunderland are assessing Bailey Wright ahead of Gillingham's visit to the Stadium of Light, after the defender suffered a facial injury at Portman Road.
Dion Sanderson is ready to step in if required after an impressive performance from the bench on Tuesday night, while Tom Flanagan is also on the brink of a return to the squad.
"Bailey is a strong lad, a warrior and I think credit has to go to him, Dion Sanderson when he came on, and Jordan Willis for how they defended the middle of the pitch," Johnson said.
"It's no fluke that we've got as many clean sheets as we have this season."