Sunderland manager Jack Ross has delivered a promising update on the fitness of attacker Duncan Watmore, ahead of the Black Cats' clash at Lincoln City on Saturday.
Watmore has been out of action for Sunderland since having to come off with a thigh problem in the second-half of the Black Cats' 1-1 draw with Oxford United on the opening day of the campaign at the Stadium of Light, and the 25-year-old has been unable to recover enough to be able to be selected for any of Ross' side's last nine League 1 matches.
The attacker has seen his spell at Sunderland blighted with injury problems, including suffering a long-term crucial knee ligament injury in November 2017 in a draw with Millwall, which has seen the 25-year-old manage to record just 31 league appearances for the Black Cats in the last three seasons.
However, speaking to the Sunderland Echo ahead of Sunderland's trip to Lincoln on Saturday, Ross suggested that Watmore is nearing fitness after making a return to first team training, saying: “He's trained this week and been really good.
"He's been really bright and positive. Unless anything happens, and touchwood it won't, he'll be involved against Grimsby on Tuesday.
"That's a big plus for me but more importantly a big plus for him, so we're looking forward to."
The Verdict
Sunderland supporters will be desperate to see Watmore make a full recovery to fitness and then manage to sustain a run of games in the side, after the 25-year-old's terrible luck with injuries in the last few seasons and the winger will need to prove that he is able to play matches without constantly picking up injury troubles.
Ross' side will be boosted by the prospect of Watmore's return, with the attacker's ability to drive forwards in possession and create space in the final third for other players a potentially vital weapon for Sunderland to use this campaign.
Having suffered so many injury problems it is important that Ross manages Watmore's return carefully and does not put too much physical demand on the 25-year-old straight away, which you would expect will be exactly what the Sunderland manager is planning to do so that his side can reap the rewards of having him fully fit for the rest of the season.
