New signing Ross Stewart will not be ready to play in Sunderland’s league game at MK Dons this weekend, says Lee Johnson.
The Black Cats signed the striker from Scottish Premiership side Ross County on Sunday, but he is still recovering from a hamstring problem.
Johnson says Saturday’s game at stadium:mk will come too soon for Stewart, but he should be ready to join in full training on Monday.
“We’re being careful with him,” said Johnson, following Sunderland’s 3-0 EFL Trophy quarter-final win over MK Dons.
“While we’ve got good players in the squad, performing well, we don’t want to rush him with a hamstring injury.
“He’s moving well, but he has to tick all the boxes.
“Best-case scenario, he will probably train with the squad on Monday but at the same time I will definitely keep the reins on him to make sure he is going to be OK.
“But I am delighted to bring him in.”
Callum McFadzean limped off with a groin problem in the first half of the Trophy win.
Johnson is hoping the injury is not serious, but says on-loan Southampton left-back Jake Vokins is ready to step in against MK Dons on Saturday if necessary.
He said: “Callum just felt his groin tighten.
“You can see the pitch is difficult. It’s quite firm just under that top inch of the surface, but the top inch is quite gunky and he just slipped as he sent the ball down the line.
“I don’t think it’s too bad, it’s just a bit tight, so we thought the best thing to do was to change it.
“But Jake is fit and ready to go. He couldn’t play tonight because he is cup-tied, but he is ready to go and he has impressed us in training.”
