Corry Evans is a doubt for Sunderland's trip to Stoke City tomorrow - but boss Alex Neil has not ruled him out at this stage. The Northern Ireland international midfielder missed the Black Cats' midweek defeat at Sheffield United due to an unspecified minor knock, with his place in the side taken by Elliot Embleton.
Neil says he had hoped that Evans would be fit to play at Bramall Lane but decided on the eve of the game that he was not ready to be involved. The fact that he was touch-and-go for that game on Wednesday, however, is an indication that Evans' injury was not serious and he will be assessed again before a decision is made on his involvement against the Potters at the bet365 Stadium this weekend.
"Corry Evans wasn't available for Wednesday so naturally he would be a doubt for this one," Neil said this morning. "It's not a significant injury so to be honest, we expected him to be fit for the game the other night. It was just one where the night before it came through that he wasn't going to be available for the match.
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"We'll cast our eye over him again and see where we get to."
Centre-back Danny Batth came off late in the game against Sheffield United as a precaution due to a groin issue, but he is expected to be fit to play tomorrow with Neil confirming: "Danny Batth should be OK." Sunderland will be without midfielder Dan Neil as he serves a one-game ban following his red card against the Blades.
And defenders Dan Ballard (fractured foot) and Carl Winchester (back) will also miss the game. Neil said: "Dan is not going to be anytime soon, as I've said.
"With Carl, we'll go through a period where we give him some rest and then try to pick him up from that."
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