Sunderland manager Jack Ross has claimed that stopper Robbin Ruiter is not guaranteed his place in the side for this evening's EFL Trophy semi-final against Bristol Rovers.

The prize is a place at Wembley for the showcase event against Portsmouth, a tie between two Championship hopefuls.

The 31-year-old keeper has played in all of the matches in the competition, but has just one League One appearance to his name this season. He will be hoping to see some action tonight, but a lot hinges on his inclusion.

Ruiter played 138 times in the Eredivisie for FC Utrecht, but since switching to Sunderland his chance shave been limited.

Jon McLaughlin has been excellent this season, meaning the big Dutchman has had to bide his time.

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His one respite has been the EFL Trophy, a maligned competition which is providing not only opportunity to young players but also those on the fringes of their first team squad.

Ruiter has been in good form too, keeping five clean sheets in seven matches including ties with Manchester City Under 21s and Newcastle Under 21s.

He'll know they're just 90 minutes away from a Wembley final and whether or not he's played in many of their league fixtures, this would be an achievement. Surely, every player wants to appear in a Wembley final, don't they?

When Ross announces his side this evening, he's going to either shatter the keeper's future or give him hope that maybe there's still a place for him at the Stadium of Light.

To drop him would be a slap in the face, he's done little wrong when called upon this season and made his only league appearances in a win against tonight's opponents.

If he's picked, it shows a degree of confidence, a loyalty that might not bring regular first team football, but at least rewards the endeavour from earlier in the season, certainly in the group games where being picked is as much of a slight on the character as it is an honour.

As the games rack up in the competitions, so does the importance and this evening, Robbin Ruiter finds out his own importance to the Black Cats.