Aji Alese is edging closer to fitness but Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray feels the play-off semi-final games against Luton Town will come too soon for him and fellow defender Dan Ballard. Alese has been out of action since suffering a thigh injury in the Black Cats' defeat against Stoke City at the beginning of March, while Ballard has been absent since picking up a hamstring issue while away on international duty with Northern Ireland at the end of March.
Alese was ruled out for the remainder of the season but has been out on the grass at the Academy of Light in recent days working with the physios. Mowbray had hoped that Ballard might be fit enough to play some part in the play-off semi-finals but those hopes have been dashed, although whether he would have a chance if Sunderland reach the final in a fortnight's time is another matter.
Asked about the pair today, Mowbray said: "I think Dan's too far away at this moment to make these games [against Luton]. They come pretty quickly - Saturday-Tuesday - so I don't think Dan Ballard is going to make it.
