Alex Pritchard is on course for a speedy return to Sunderland's play-off campaign with the influential midfielder expected to begin light training next week. Playmaker Pritchard limped out of the Black Cats' goalless draw at Charlton Athletic a fortnight ago after suffering an ankle injury, with boss Alex Neil fearing he could lose the 28-year-old for an extended period.
However a scan showed the injury was not as bad as was initially thought and he would be out for only a matter of weeks. Now Neil says he hopes Pritchard will be back out on the training pitch at the Academy of Light next week and, with no game next Saturday, that may mean that Pritchard has a chance of being involved when Sunderland resume their League One programme at home to Gillingham on April 2.
"Al's made really good progress," said Neil, speaking ahead of tomorrow's trip to Lincoln City. "As I've said previously, the injury isn't as bad as was first feared.
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"He'll certainly miss this game [against Lincoln], but I'm hoping that we should get Alex out on the grass next week. He will certainly help us in the remaining games once we get him fit."
Pritchard joined Sunderland last summer and, after a slow start while he built up his fitness, has gone on to become a key player for the Black Cats with four league goals and nine assists so far. Neil said: "He gives the team good balance.
"He's not big in stature but he is very combative, he understands pressing triggers, he is very good tactically and technically. When you combine all of that, he is a good player."
On-loan Everton striker Nathan Broadhead has also been out of action since playing against Charlton. In his case, he was making his comeback from a hamstring problem in that game but felt some tightness in the muscle after the match.
It is not a major injury concern and he has been involved in training for part of this week, but whether he is involved at Lincoln remains to be seen
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