Aiden McGeady and Lee Cattermole could be involved in Sunderland’s midweek game against Burton Albion, according to Jack Ross.
The pair missed the Black Cats’ 2-1 win at Rochdale, with McGeady missing the game after picking up an ankle problem in Wednesday’s win over Accrington Stanley, while Cattermole also sat out that game after his ongoing ankle issue flared up in last weekend’s EFL Trophy final at Wembley.
But Ross is hopeful that they could return to training on Monday, and be available when the Brewers visit the Stadium of Light on Tuesday.
“Aiden was absolutely desperate to play today,” said Ross. "And if he couldn’t play, he was desperate to travel and be on the bench.
“But we tried him yesterday and he still wasn’t right, but the good thing is he has improved every day since Wednesday.
“I haven’t spoken to him today but I’m hopeful that by the time we come back in on Monday he will have a good chance of playing on Tuesday.
“And it’s the same for Lee. There’s a possibility that he could be back training with us on Monday and that would strengthen us as well.”
But Sunderland picked up a fresh injury in the win at Spotland, with Lynden Gooch forced off just after the half-hour with a hamstring problem which will need to be assessed to find the full extent of the injury.
Ross said: “It’s Lynden’s hamstring again. It has been an ongoing issue for us all season and in fairness to him, he has played a lot of games considering it has been a niggle.
“It’s too early right now to know whether he will be OK for Tuesday - that game comes round quite quickly, so it might stretch us again.
“But we might have a couple back by then which could help us.”
Rochdale 1-2 Sunderland report - George Honeyman strikes late to win it
Rochdale 1-2 Sunderland player ratings - James Hunter's Black Cats match marks
