Tony Mowbray says Sunderland have a couple of minor injury concerns but expects to take an unchanged squad to Preston as the Black Cats look to secure a play-off spot on the final day of the Championship season. Mowbray said 'one or two' players sat out training today, but he feels they will be ready by the time Sunderland take on Preston at Deepdale on Monday.
But he confirmed that, as expected, Dan Ballard will definitely play no part in the game as he continues to recover from a hamstring issue that has sidelined him since the end of March. "Ballard won't be affecting this game, but I hope there's nothing else [in terms of injuries]," he said.
"I hope there's nothing [more]. There were one or two not training today for different reasons.
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"Without giving any names away, one woke up with a crick in his neck, his neck was a bit stiff, and with modern-day footballers, that's enough for them not to train. One wasn't feeling well, but should be alright in the next day or two.
"I'm hoping that come the weekend, we'll have Saturday and Sunday training before going to play on Monday and we'll have a full squad. Or, at least, what the squad has been."
Sunderland are already without long-term injuries Ross Stewart (Achilles), Corry Evans (cruciate ligament), Aji Alese (thigh), Elliot Embleton (broken ankle), Danny Batth (knee), and Jewison Bennette (dislocated shoulder).
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