Sunderland boss Jack Ross has revealed that summer signings Laurens De Bock and Joel Lynch will have to wait for the debuts ahead of Saturday's trip to Bolton.

The Wearside outfit will be looking to get back to winning ways after they dropped two points at home to Rotherham in the week but they are going to have to do without the new recruits, along with Duncan Watmore who is still not fit.

"Duncan Watmore is unavailable, but Laurens De Bock and Joel Lynch will maybe be in the squad for the cup game next week," the manager told the club's media.

That will be a blow for Watmore, who still hasn't played for the Black Cats this season apart from a 30-minute showing from the bench on the opening day of the season.

Ross revealed earlier in the month that constant niggles have prevented him from getting back up to full fitness, with a thigh injury the latest issue to halt his progress.

That suggests, unlike De Bock and Lynch, he also will miss the trip to Sheffield United in the League Cup on Wednesday.

The verdict

You can understand why Ross doesn't want to rush the new players into the XI and that makes total sense.

Firstly, they both haven't played a lot of football for a while now and it can take time to get match fit, whilst the current defenders are doing reasonably well on the whole, so there is no rush to get them in the side.

As for Watmore, you have to feel sorry for the attacker who just doesn't seem to be able to have any luck when it comes to staying fit.

Thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.