The winter break for the Qatar World Cup will give Tony Mowbray and Sunderland a welcome opportunity to hit reset after a solid start to the Championship campaign. The Black Cats have been hit by a number of injuries to key players in recent weeks, a factor that coincided with their drop down the table.
Ellis Simms returned to action in recent weeks, while Ross Stewart was pictured back in light training before the break. Sunderland lacked a focal point on the pitch with their only two strikers out injured, but the break will give the duo an opportunity to get back up to speed ahead of a return to action.
Mowbray's side have already shown they're a threat for any side in the division, and they're more than capable of sneaking into the play-offs with a strong second-half of the campaign. As things stand, Sunderland are just four points off the play-off picture, with Millwall - their next opponents at the Stadium of Light.
