Will Grigg could be back in action by the end of the month with Lee Johnson revealing the striker's injury has turned out to be a 'best case scenario'.
Johnson had said last weekend that Grigg could be facing 'three weeks, three months, or nine months' on the sidelines with a knee problem, depending on the advice of a specialist and whether the injury required surgery.
And there is good news for Sunderland and Grigg, with the specialist deciding that a three week rest period is the right way forward.
"It's good news on Will, or at least the best-case scenario," Johnson said.
"We were initially quoted that it could be three weeks, three months or nine months, depending on what the surgeon came back with.
"We’ve now been told that the rest period of around three weeks will be beneficial for Will, and hopefully he will be back in the fold after that time."
Ahead of tomorrow's game against Hull City at the Stadium of Light, Johnson said this week's round of mandatory Covid testing did not reveal any new cases in the Sunderland squad.
Defender Callum McFadzean was not included in the squad last weekend at Northampton Town because he had struggled with the after-effects of the virus after contracting it over the Christmas period, but he will be available tomorrow.
Johnson said: "Everyone tested negative in this week's mandatory Covid testing, which is great news for us.
"We do have one illness in the squad but the player in question tested negative, so it is likely just a case of 'man flu'.
"One player [McFadzean] wasn't risked in the squad last week with a 'double dip', but is in line to be in the squad this week.
"We've had to make sure everyone's good both in the legs and the lungs, so that we're in good shape ahead of this weekend."
Denver Hume (hamstring) and Luke O'Nien (dislocated shoulder) have missed recent games but both are well on the road to recovery.
O'Nien is due to resume full contact training next week, while Hume should be ready to return in ten days to two weeks.
Johnson said: "Luke is back to 100 percent on the grass and should be able to take part in contact training next week.
"Denver is also up to 100 percent in sprinting and could be 10-14 days away now."
