Ellis Simms could start against Cardiff City tomorrow - with Tony Mowbray weighing up whether to 'gamble' on bringing him back into the Sunderland XI ahead of schedule. The on-loan Everton striker made his comeback last weekend at Luton from the toe injury that had sidelined him since mid-September, and his return at last gave Sunderland a centre-forward to call upon once more.
A 20-minute outing from the bench at Kenilworth Road was followed by a 45-minute appearance as a substitute in the Black Cats' midweek win at Huddersfield, with that in itself a longer run-out than the half-hour Mowbray had planned because he needed a more physical presence up front. But given that Simms came through that unscathed, it has raised the possibility of him potentially starting against Cardiff at the Stadium of Light.
Mowbray had previously said he did not expect Simms to start games until after the forthcoming World Cup break, but he is now reconsidering - and even if Simms does not start tomorrow, there is the chance that he could begin next Friday's game at Birmingham City which is the final match before Sunderland's Championship season pauses for three weeks. "I've yet to have that conversation with him," said Mowbray, when asked if Simms was ready to start.
