Sunderland manager Lee Johnson has admitted that Leon Dajaku could be in line to feature in the club's two upcoming clashes with Fleetwood Town and Wigan Athletic.

The Black Cats will be aiming to extend their advantage at the top of the League One standings by sealing all three points in their meeting with the Cod Army on Saturday.

Johnson's side are then set to travel to the DW Stadium to face Wigan in the third round of the Carabao Cup next Tuesday.

Signed by Sunderland on transfer deadline day, Dajaku has yet to feature for the club due to a lack of fitness.

However, the 20-year-old has been participating in training this week and is now seemingly ready to make a positive impression for his new side.

Although Dajaku's current loan deal is set to expire at the end of the 2021/22 campaign, Sunderland do have the option to purchase him from his parent-club Union Berlin.

Making reference to the forward, Johnson has admitted that he is looking to include Dajaku in his match-day squads for the club's meetings with Fleetwood and Wigan.

Speaking to the Northern Echo ahead of Saturday's showdown with the Cod Army about Dajaku, the Sunderland boss said: "I think he’s progressing well.

"He wasn’t a million miles off it, he just was unconditioned in terms of the match scenarios.

 

 

"He still is because obviously he hasn’t had a match, so we’ve got to work him up to that, but we’ve got an opportunity to play him in one of the next two games, Saturday and then Tuesday, and if he’s not starting, we can bring him off the bench in those games.

"I definitely think he’s got a start in him, and probably up to 55 or 60 minutes, or a game-changing 15 to 25 minutes in the second half."

The Verdict

This is encouraging news for Sunderland as the club's supporters will be desperate to see Dajaku in action following his recent switch.

Whilst it may take the German some time to adjust to life in League One due to the fact that he has never played at this level before, there is no reason why he cannot go on to become a key player for the Black Cats.

A versatile individual, Dajaku's ability to operate as a winger as well as a second striker could benefit Sunderland this season if the club suffer injuries or suspensions to players in these particular positions.

Providing that Dajaku is able to deliver the goods on a consistent basis at the Stadium of Light, he could become a hit with the club's supporters who will be hoping to see their side seal promotion to the Championship next year.