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James Hunter

Sunderland report two more Covid cases but Sheffield Wednesday game remains on

Sunderland have reported two more Covid cases but neither will affect the viability of tomorrow's home game against Sheffield Wednesday.

Lee Johnson said on Monday that there were three cases within his squad, with Aiden O'Brien, youngster Ellis Taylor, and long-term injury victim Jordan Willis, the men who had tested positive.

And today he revealed that midfielder Luke O'Nien - who in any case is not expected to play until March after undergoing shoulder surgery at the beginning of the month - and physical performance coach Nick Allamby have also now returned positive tests.

READ MORE: Tom Flanagan tells Sunderland what they need to do in the January transfer window

"Luke O'Nien has now tested positive as well, although he was not fit in any case," said Johnson.

"Nick Allamby on the coaching staff has also tested positive."

Under the current rules, people who test positive must isolate for seven days but there has been a suggestion that that period could be cut to five days, as is already the case in America.

Johnson said: "There's talk that the Government might change the isolation time to five days for people who test positive, and if that does happen it will be interesting to see if that filters into football."

Rising numbers of Covid cases have seen a spate of postponed fixtures across the Premier League and EFL over the Christmas period, with clubs allowed to ask for a game to be called off if they are unable to name a squad containing 14 fit players.

Sunderland's home game against Fleetwood Town on Sunday has been postponed after the Cod Army informed the EFL that they would not be able to field a team.

Johnson said: "I could kind of smell it [the postponement] coming. I had heard a few rumours and spoken to a few agents who told me that Fleetwood had had a few Covid cases and a lot of injuries.

"I was disappointed in one sense because I wanted to play it and try get the points, but at the same time everybody has to be able to adjust at the moment and cope.

"From a positive point of view it is a good opportunity to rest the players and depending on when that game is put back in - probably in the second or third week in January - we might be a stronger team and squad."

Sunderland and Sheffield Wednesday are both due to undergo another round of Covid testing tomorrow but, subject to the outcome of that, the game at the Stadium of Light is set to go ahead.

Midfielder Carl Winchester missed Monday's win at Doncaster with a calf problem suffered in training and he is rated at 50-50 to be involved against the Owls, and Johnson will leave it as late as possible to make a decision on his fitness.

He said: "He is steadily improving. Whether or not he will make it is another question.

"We'll look at him tomorrow and we are giving him every chance, leaving him as long as possible to let the injury heal.

"He's getting a lot of ultrasound, massage therapy, and acupuncture.

"I'd say he is 50-50 to be involved tomorrow."

Corry Evans started in Winchester's place against Doncaster and, with Sunderland winning 3-0, they were able to take him off after an hour to protect him as he has only recently returned from a thigh injury.

Johnson said: "The only worry is Corry going into the second game [against Sheffield Wednesday] three days after the first.

"It was nice to be able to be in charge of the game enough that we could take him off for that last half-hour.

"We did say at half-time that if we got the third goal then Corry would be coming off pretty quickly, and that will serve us well going into the Sheffield Wednesday game."

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