Lynden Gooch returns to Sunderland squad as Tony…

Lynden Gooch returns to Sunderland squad as Tony Mowbray gives injury update ahead of Norwich trip

Lynden Gooch is in contention for Sunderland's weekend's trip to Norwich City and will be in the squad that travels to Norfolk. Gooch has been out of action since mid-January due to a hip flexor problem but was back out on the pitches at the Academy of Light last week, initially taking part in non-contact training before stepping that up to full training.

And the 27-year-old could play some part in Sunday's game at Carrow Road, although he is more likely to be included on the bench than thrust straight into the starting XI after so long out. Full-back Niall Huggins is also back in training and closing in on a first-team return after recovering from the ankle injury which was the latest in a series of problems that have restricted him to just two appearances this season, although Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray says Huggins will need to play for the U21s before he ready to be considered for a senior comeback.

Mowbray also said an unnamed key player had limped out of training today with a muscle injury which will need to be monitored, but it could mean he has another injury doubt to contend with this weekend. "I think Lynden will probably be in the travelling squad," said Mowbray.

"But we did have a player, a pretty important player for us, drop out of training today with a muscle problem which isn't good, and we'll have to look at that. As for Niall, he probably needs to play in an U21 fixture or something to give him the confidence that he can cope with it again and play some football rather than chuck him into the scenario of first-team football - we have done that in the past and he seems to have broken down on the back of those decisions.

"Niall has trained the whole week but he needs to play in an U21 game to get the confidence that, when he comes with the first team and gets on the pitch, he won't break down. With Niall, I feel it has gone past the urgency of the first team result and it's more about getting him in a mental position where he feels he can stay robust and strong and become a regular competitior to get in our team."

Sunderland were hit with a fresh injury blow today when it was confirmed that defender Aji Alese would miss the remainder of the season due to a thigh injury he suffered in last weekend's home defeat against Stoke City, and which forced him off at half-time in that game. Mowbray said: "It's another huge blow and it's disappointing for Aji.

"Injuries are part and parcel of football and, like any club, you have to get on with it but it does feel that we have been hit pretty hard. I remember when we were coming towards the end of the transfer window in January when Ross Stewart was fit, thinking we're going to have a brilliant second half of the season where everybody is fit and we were only going to get stronger, but that hasn't been the case.

"There's a frustration attached to it and we've had to go back to the well with the same players most of the time, which has been difficult."

Of Alese's first season on Wearside, he added: "It was a great pick from our recruitment department to take him from West Ham. He brings the versatility of being able to play centre-half and also he is athletic enough to play full-back, and he has shown that he can join in and get involved higher up the pitch and be a threat to the opposition.

"It's going to be a blow for us [to be without him], but as each one comes along we have to deal with it and keep going."

Mowbray also said that left-back Dennis Cirkin is still suffering from the after-effects of the concussion he sustained in the draw at Millwall last month, and is not yet ready for full-contact training and therefore he is not available for selection.

Lynden Gooch returns to Sunderland squad as Tony Mowbray gives injury update ahead of Norwich trip

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