Aji Alese could be included on the bench for Sunderland's crucial Championship play-off semi-final second leg at Luton Town. The Black Cats head to Kenilworth Road tomorrow holding a slender lead after coming from behind to win the first leg 2-1 on Wearside on Saturday evening.
Sunderland played the final three games of the regular season without any recognised centre-backs following injuries to Alese and Danny Batth, and that situation was unchanged for the first game against Luton at the weekend. Batth has no chance of returning before next season, but Alese is close to returning from the thigh injury he suffered in early March and head coach Tony Mowbray said that the 22-year-old took part in training at the Academy of Light today.
Alese could not start against Luton, but he might be called upon late in the game if Sunderland find themselves having to withstand an aerial assault from the Hatters. "Alese trained today, which is good," said Mowbray.
