Roberts could return to boost Black Cats
PATRICK Roberts could return for Sunderland over the Easter weekend, but Mike Dodds issued a note of caution ahead of the Black Cats’ trip to Cardiff.
Roberts has been out of action since the defeat at Huddersfield in mid-February, when he limped off late on after coming on as a substitute.
Interim head coach Dodds warned: “We have to be mindful he has had two hamstring injuries this year.”
Dodds, whose time back in charge of the side has been blighted by injuries to key personnel, revealed that, “there is still a question mark over Jack Clarke”.
Both Roberts (below) and Clarke are hugely important to Sunderland and Roberts’ return would be most welcome even though the news on Clarke is a continuing blow for Dodds and the team who desperately need to find a spark from somewhere in the Welsh capital tomorrow.
Speaking to the press head of the trip to Wales – as well as the home game with Blackburn Rovers on Monday – Dodds said: “Pat [Roberts] has done three or four sessions now so is training with the group. Obviously we’ve got to be mindful he has had two hamstring injuries this year as we’ve got two games in a short space of time. Or three games if you include the following Saturday [home to Bristol City].” With regards to Cardiff, Dodds reasoned: “It will be similar in terms of the QPR game. They put bodies behind the ball but it’s not bodies behind the ball for bodies’ sake. They are well coached out of possession, they are a huge threat from set-pieces which we have spoken about as a group.
“But ultimately we’ve got to do more with the ball. That’s why sometimes the international break is a blessing but it can also be a curse as you want the next game to correct the last game.
“The coach [Erol Bulut] has got the absolute maximum out of what he has at his disposal. They have had a reasonably good season.
“They are in form, Their last game was a derby game [against Swansea] and I don’t think you can read too much into that as there is so much passion and so many other factors that go into those games.
“It’s the game prior to that we’ve watched a lot of. They are really wellorganised. They are really good at
set-pieces and have good individuals at the top end of the pitch.”
Touching on other players, Dodds added: “Corry [Evans] has been training full contact now. So he is back with the group. Aji [Alese] played some minutes for the U21s so he is back training.
“Jack [Clarke] is still a question mark at the moment.
“We were hoping, based on his history, that he would be quicker than the prognosis but unfortunately that’s not the case. So Jack is out on the grass, he is running, but I don’t think he’s going to be available this weekend.
“Bradley Dack is available and to have people like Dacky and Corry back in the group, just in terms of their experience, is hugely valuable for everyone.”
Dodds confirmed Nazariy Rusyn will remain out with a calf problem for the foreseeable future and may be back towards the latter end of the campaign.
There is worse news concerning Jenson Seelt. “It’s the worst case for Jenson and we are looking at six to nine months,” said Dodds.
“I have never experienced anything like this in my time at the football club. I feel for Jenson. Just when he was going to get his opportunity and this happened.
“Sometimes these things happen for young footballers. It’s going to be a challenge for him. He seems in a good place as in, he has processed the outcome for him but unfortunately it’s a prolonged period of time out.”
Meanwhile, Jay Matete has returned to Sunderland from his loan spell at Oxford United.
The midfielder moved to the League One side in February, but has undergone minor knee surgery that has ended his 2023/24 season.