Watmore and Oviedo are set for a return
DUNCAN Watmore and Bryan Oviedo are set to return to the Sunderland squad for this weekend’s trip to Charlton Athletic.
The pair missed out on the Black Cats’ New Year’s Day win at Blackpool, with left-back Oviedo suffering a knock in the previous game against Shrewsbury Town while Watmore was rested as he continues to be eased back following a long-term injury absence.
But manager Jack Ross has confirmed that both players will make the trip to South East London as third-placed Sunderland take on the fifthplaced Addicks.
“Bryan missed Tuesday’s game with a minor knock he picked up against Shrewsbury but he trained today and should travel with us,” said Ross.
“Duncan will travel as well. He didn’t have any issue – as I said post-match, we were just looking after him.
“Other than that, I would expect us to have the same squad.”
Adam Matthews (calf) and George Honeyman (ankle) are very unlikely to be included in the travelling squad, with Matthews having been out of action since mid-December while Honeyman last figured in the defeat at leaders Portsmouth immediately before Christmas.
Ross said: “Adam and George are highly unlikely to be ready. There’s an outside possibility, but most likely they won’t travel.
“Adam has had some issues with his calf throughout the season but, to his credit, it has never really forced him to miss anything.
“There have been a few times he has thought he would be back in contention to be involved but it has not been quite right. I would be hopeful that he will be back training at the beginning of next week, but we are just conscious of the risk of losing him for a significant period.
“We have to be very careful that that does not happen.
“It’s frustrating for him because he was in good form.”
Glenn Loovens has not recovered from the injury he picked up at Portsmouth while
Lee Cattermole will miss out through suspension after picking up his 10th booking of the season on Tuesday.