Tony Mowbray is hoping for a double injury boost when Sunderland's Championship campaign resumes after the international break, with Ellis Simms and Dennis Cirkin on course to return. On-loan Everton frontman Simms limped out of the Black Cats' midweek win at Reading with a toe injury and, while Mowbray said he was 'touch-and-go' to play in Saturday's draw at Watford he ultimately decided not to risk him.
Defender Cirkin suffered a hamstring injury a fortnight ago and went off late the game as Sunderland lost at Middlesbrough, with that problem ruling him out of both the Reading and Watford trips. Both players will continue to receive treatment over the next two weeks at the Academy of Light, but Mowbray is keeping his fingers crossed that they will be in contention for Sunderland's home game against Preston North End a week on Saturday.
"It was touch and go for Ellis," said Mowbray, following the game at Watford. "The common-sense thing to do was not to expose a problem with his toe that could have easily seen him go down after five or ten minutes.
