Ellis Simms is not ready to return for Sunderland's weekend game against Preston - with Tony Mowbray admitting the striker's toe injury is taking longer than expected to heal. Simms suffered the problem in the Black Cats' 3-0 win at Reading and underwent a scan on the injury the next day which Mowbray said at the time had been 'inconclusive'.
At that stage, Simms was described as 'touch-and-go' to be involved in the next game at Watford less than 72 hours later, although in the end he did not feature on the teamsheet. The hope was that Simms would be fit when Sunderland's season resumed against Preston at the Stadium of Light following the two-week international break, but Mowbray said this morning that that would not be the case.
Simms is still on Wearside, but there is talk that he might return to Goodison Park for Everton to assess his injury and decide whether to send him for another scan. "We'd hoped that he might be OK after this international break but that's not going to be the case," said Mowbray.
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"We did say it would depend on how it developed. He's had scans and X-rays, and it might be the case now that Everton want to do that as well.
"Our diagnosis is that there seems to be some ligament damage on his big toe – it doesn't look like he's ready to play for us this weekend. We'll wait and see what Everton want to do and what their assessment is. Ultimately, it will always be the parent club who guides these decisions.
"It's his big toe, and I know from 20 years of playing that it can be a sore injury and if its affecting you running, it’s very difficult."
With leading scorer Ross Stewart already missing with a thigh injury, it means that Sunderland will go into the weekend without a recognised striker once more, with Alex Pritchard expected to continue operating as a false nine. Sunderland are also assessing midfielder Abdoullah Ba, who reported back to the Academy of Light with a dead leg after going away on international duty with France U20.
Jewison Bennette has been away in South Korea with the Costa Rica national team during the international break and Mowbray says his involvement against Preston will depend on how he feels after such a long trip. Mowbray said: "It depends on Jewi really, as to where he is at.
"He's beeen in South Korea and the lines of communication haven't been great. I don't think he will be training today, but he will definitely be in training tomorrow.
"As for Abdoullah Ba, he picked up a bit of a dead leg but he is going to train and we will see how he is."
But there was better news on defender Dennis Cirkin, with Mowbray confirming he returned to training this week after recovering from a hamstring issue.
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