Tony Mowbray’s chances of having a deeper squad to choose from during the current international break appear to have been strengthened when a number of players returned to training.
Bradley Dack missed the entire last block of Championship games due to a hamstring injury, while Pierre Ekwah missed the last five games due to a recurrence of a dead leg versus QPR. Ekwah then developed a hematoma, which had to be removed before he could resume full training.
Mowbray and Sunderland were careful with both, hoping to avoid either having a bigger condition as a result of returning to play too early.
His aim had always been that they would return to full training over this fortnight, allowing them to play against Stoke City next Saturday.
Both were on the practise fields this afternoon, indicating that they are on track.
On the Academy of Light training grounds, Mowbray has seen plenty of other positive indicators.
Aji Alese and Eliezer Mayenda both returned to full training before the defeat to Middlesbrough, and their recoveries have been accelerated by the international break. Neither is expected to start against Stoke City next weekend, as Mowbray has stated that they will need to build match fitness in the U21 side before being realistically exposed to Championship football, but both should make their first appearances of the season over the next few weeks.
In addition, both Alex Pritchard and Dennis Cirkin have been spotted in training for Mowbray.
Pritchard should be available to face Stoke City after missing the last two games due to a minor calf injury. Mowbray stated before the international break that he did not anticipate Cirkin to be totally healthy and ready for the game next Saturday, but his development is definitely positive.
There has been no update on Niall Huggins, who was replaced in the first half of Middlesbrough’s loss due to a muscular complaint. Mowbray is expected to provide an update next week, with the club now monitoring the full back in the hope that there is no severe concern.
