Duncan Watmore's injury nightmare is set to continue as it's been confirmed he'll be out until the end of the season, but his Dad Ian has revealed that he's aiming for a possible Wembley comeback.
Unlucky Watmore picked up yet another injury after a scything challenge from Wycombe's Marcus Bean in their recent 1-1 draw, agonisingly after bagging a vital 94th minute equaliser.
Bean was sent off for the challenge but Watmore, who has endured two ACL injuries in the past couple of years, was taken off and is now out of their closing fixtures.
The EFL Trophy final against Portsmouth will come too soon for the 25-year-old, but his Dad has told the Sunderland Echo that he has his sights set on another Wembley date, if the Black Cats need it.
“He had a bit of a down week last week but the thousands of messages we got on Twitter and everywhere else just really helped him,” said Ian.
“The club has had a good couple of games and the manager has given him a target to get himself playing fit again by the end of May so he can have a proper pre-season.
“I think probably in the back of his head, he hopes he doesn’t have to play again this season because it means automatic promotion, but if there was a need to go to Wembley for the play-off final, he might just be fit for that.”
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The Black Cats are set to face Kenny Jackett's Portsmouth at Wembley this weekend in a match expected to attract 90,000 supporters.
Whether they need a second date at Wembley is still up in the air, they're five points adrift of second placed Barnsley in League One. However, with two matches in hand, their fate is still in their own hands.
The Verdict
Duncan Watmore won't play again this season. He might be thinking Wembley, but would Jack Ross risk a player with no match fitness in such a huge game?
If they do need a play-off and if Watmore is fit he might be put on the bench and given a late cameo out of sentiment, but it's unlikely. Promotion is the aim for Ross this season and he's a ruthless and focused manager who will always make the tough calls.