Two of Sunderland's key injured trio of Nathan Broadhead, Luke O'Nien, and Aiden McGeady, are closing in on a return to action, according to Black Cats boss Alex Neil. All three have been pictured training at the Academy of Light this week, raising hopes that they could soon return to play a part in the run-in as Sunderland look to secure a play-off place.
Midfielder O'Nien and winger McGeady have not played since mid-November, with the former having undergone shoulder surgery while the latter suffered knee ligament damage. On-loan Everton striker Broadhead has not featured since picking up a hamstring injury in the Carabao Cup quarter-final defeat at Arsenal the week before Christmas.
But Neil has given an optimistic update on two of those players, and while he did not name them outright it is understood that Broadhead is closest to a comeback, with O'Nien not far behind, while McGeady is still some way away. "People want to see [Broadhead] back as they would with any player, but we need to make sure he is fit, available, and ready," said Neil.
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"What I won't do is force anybody back until they have shown me - and shown themselves - on the training pitch that they are capable and ready. Talking about those three, some are certainly closer than others because of the nature of the injuries and how much work they have done since then until now.
"Of the three, there's one who is nowhere near ready, there's one who is getting there, and there's one who is a lot closer - I'll let you decide which one is which!" The return of any or all of that trio in the coming weeks would be a major boost to Sunderland's chances of finishing in the top six.
But one player who does not look likely to be back any time soon is defender Niall Huggins, who has not played since suffering a stress fracture to his back in September. Asked whether he thought Huggins would play again this season, Neil was non-commital, saying: "That one is rumbling on at the moment.
"It's difficult for me to come out with a clear answer on that one. "We'll see how it goes over the next little period and hopefully I will be able to give you more information after that."
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