Alex Neil has taken a more cautious approach with Nathan Broadhead in the striker's latest injury comeback - with the Sunderland boss conscious of the impact he could have on the League One run-in. Broadhead came off the bench to score the injury-time winner against Gillingham on Wearside last weekend which kept the Black Cats firmly in the hunt for a play-off place.
It was the on-loan Everton striker's first appearance for a month after he aggravated a hamstring problem at Charlton at the beginning of March, in what was his first game back since suffering the injury before Christmas. Broadhead's return has come with Sunderland in the midst of a battle to secure a top six finish, and with it a shot at promotion through the play-offs.
And with the 24-year-old having now scored seven goals in his last eight games in all competitions - either side of his injury issues - his goal threat will give Sunderland a major boost in the final six games of the regular campaign. "The proof will be in the pudding," said Neil of the impact Broadhead can have in the run-in.
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"It depends what he delivers in the remaining games, as to what impact he has. What it does do is give us many more options in terms of the squad, and it gives us better options in terms of having guys in areas that can affect the game, that can score goals, that can be effective.
"We want everybody available and firing - it makes my decisions more difficult, but it makes the squad stronger. The fact that Nathan is now coming back and impacted the last game is only a good thing for us."
After recovering from his initital hamstring injury, Broadhead was brought straight back into the starting XI at Charlton and played for 70 minutes, which Neil has admitted may have been asking too much of him too soon. So against Gillingham he was eased back gently and played only the final 20 minutes in an effort to ensure he did not break down again.
Neil said: "The last time Broady came back, I played him for 70 minutes at Charlton and we didn't see him for four or five games, which was disappointing. This time we gave him 20 minutes, and hopefully we'll see more of him in the remaining games."
Sunderland face a major test this weekend when they take on play-off rivals Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium. Sunderland go into the game in seventh place, two points outside the top six but with a game in hand of Wycombe immediately above them, while Oxford are eighth, a point behind the Black Cats but have played one game more than Neil's men.
Sunderland have no new injuries in the wake of the win against the Gills, and Neil expects to have the same squad available this weekend. "I think we should be as we were for the last game," he said.
"It's difficult to say for sure, though, because we are still 48 hours away from the Oxford match but, at this moment in time, we should be OK."
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