Wyke is closer to comeback after training triumph

CHARLIE Wyke is on course to make his first-team comeback by the end of the month after starting full training this week, Jack Ross has confirmed.

Striker Wyke – who turned 25 today – was Sunderland’s marquee signing in the summer, arriving from League One strugglers Bradford City in a deal understood to be worth up to £1m, but has endured a difficult start to life on Wearside.

He arrived with a knee injury which ruled him out until September and, though he scored on his debut against Oxford United, he then suffered a knee ligament injury in only his fourth outing for his new club. Wyke was expected to be ruled out until the Christmas-New Year holiday period and he remains on schedule.

His return to training with the first team squad this week was another important milestone in his rehabilitation.

Ross said: “Charlie is now back in full training with me,.

“He really started on Tuesday and that is a big positive for him and for us.

“I would hope by the end of the month he will be there or thereabouts, part of the squad.

“It has been challenging for him. He is desperate to do well here, he is a good character, a strong character, he is positive and he has dealt with the injury blows really well.”

In hindsight, Ross says he probably brought Wyke back too soo, and, while that had nothing to do with the second injury which was caused by a collision with Brewers’ goalkeeper Dimitar Evtimov, it did mean the player was not fully up to speed when he came into the side.

That is a mistake Ross is determined to avoid this time round.