Sunderland manager Jack Ross has given a fitness update on his side ahead of this weekend’s trip to strugglers Rochdale.

The headline is that George Honeyman will return to the side but as many as four others will miss out following a packed schedule.

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“The only one that comes back into the squad is George Honeyman, who has completed his suspension,” Ross told his pre-match press conference.

“Reece James and Lee Cattermole miss out, along with Adam Matthews, Chris Maguire and Duncan Watmore.”

The Black Cats bounced back impressively from their penalty shootout defeat at Wembley on Wednesday with an emphatic 3-0 win over Accrington Stanley.

Goals from Aiden McGeady, Will Grigg and Kaziah Sterling, his first for the club, were enough to secure all three points and close the gap on the automatic promotion places.

They now sit just three points behind second-placed Barnsley with two games in hand as they look to secure an instant return to the Championship.

The verdict

Sunderland are doing incredibly well this season considering how their schedule has worked out at such a crucial stage of the season.

In cases like this, it is usually better to have the points on the board, but Barnsley will be very worried about being overtaken as things stand.

It is sure to be a thoroughly entertaining run in, that is for sure.