Millers match too soon for Broadhead and Denver

Sunderland’s trip to Rotherham United today will come too soon for Nathan Broadhead, but Lee Johnson hopes that the Everton loanee is close to making his comeback from injury.

Broadhead has been absent with a hamstring complaint since the 5-0 win over Cheltenham Town at the Stadium of Light in late September.

Johnson’s striking options up front have been limited as a result, but the head coach is hopeful that the 23-year-old has ‘turned a corner’ in his recovery.

“It’s definitely been pushed back, in terms of the original prognosis,” Johnson said.

"The timescale was relatively short, and we thought it was a best-case scenario.

"But the reality is that you’ve still got to take the player’s symptoms and the player’s feelings on board.

“He’s obviously been feeling something.

"I do feel like we’ve turned the corner now, and that’s probably just the time.

"Will he be fit for this weekend? No. Will he be fit for next weekend? I truly hope so.”

Sunderland are still waiting for the results of a scan on Denver Hume, who left QPR on Tuesday night with his ankle in a protective boot.

"We’re just awaiting scan results (on Hume), but it doesn’t look good for the weekend, if I’m honest with you,” Johnson said.

"We’ll have to see. “Hopefully, he won’t be out too long. It’ll be disappointing for him, but it’s part of being a footballer. You’ve just got to bounce back.

“There were bumps and bruises (on Tuesday), it was a very physical game. The majority of those are just bumps and bruises.

“You want to keep your cards close to your chest in a game like this because there will be a couple of key changes to the team.

“Like I’ve always said, we’ve got to show that tactical agility with this squad, we really have. We’ve got to be able to play a five or a four, we’ve got to be able to play one up front or two, an expansive 4-3-3 or a 4-2-31 compact. We’ve got to be able to do all of this, but still have a really clear idea and identity as we do that.”