Sunderland manager Jack Ross will be encouraged by the news that winger Duncan Watmore has recovered from the injury that has kept him out for a year and will be in the squad against Notts County.

Watmore has been out of action since suffering a cruciate ligament injury in November 2017, just six games after returning from a similar injury he sustained in December 2016.

So should Watmore come straight into the Sunderland XI?

We discuss.....

George Harbey

I think he has to be patient first.

Sunderland has been excellent this season and their wingers have been sensational - so it’d be unfair to drop them as soon as Watmore is back available.

He’s got to prove himself again.

Gary Hutchinson

Nope.

He’s been out too long, there’s a settled side there now and he’ll need to break into it.

He’s a great player at that level and he’s sure to be a real threat when he is fit, but it won’t come straight away.

Jacob Potter

He should certainly be considered.

Watmore would be playing in the Premier League if he hadn’t have been injured for the last couple of seasons.

So Jack Ross will be hoping he can play a crucial role in their promotion push this season, but he might have to ease him back into action after a lengthy injury lay-off.