Corry Evans and Danny Batth are set to return to the Sunderland squad for this weekend's game against Swansea City at the Stadium of Light. Leon Dajaku is also back in contention after returning to training having missed last weekend's FA Cup win at Shrewsbury Town.
But Aji Alese (foot), Dennis Cirkin (thigh), Alex Pritchard (calf), and Niall Huggins (ankle), will not be ready for Saturday's game against the Swans. Batth has been out of action since suffering a calf injury in the Black Cats' draw at Hull City just before Christmas, while Evans has missed recent games due to illness.
Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray said: "Danny Batth trained today, and Niall Huggins had his first day back on the grass today which was good. Niall has been out for a while so he won't be in contention for this week but it's good that he's on his way back.
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"Corry Evans has been training and is available. Aji Alese is probably about ten days away, he's back on the grass doing a little bit of running.
"Dennis Cirkin is probably about a week behind Aji. Leon is back on the training ground, the injury wasn't as bad as he thought so he's back in the squad and we'll see what the weekend brings."
After last week's FA Cup tie, Sunderland resume their Championship campaign sitting eighth in the table, three points ahead of 15th-placed Swansea.
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