Sunderland’s coaching staff are confident that Jermain Defoe will make a swift return to action despite picking up a thigh injury in training.
The 33-year-old is yet to feature during the club’s pre-season tour of France, with first-team coach Robbie Stockdale revealing the striker will undergo a scan on the injury in the coming days.
Despite awaiting a definitive prognosis, Defoe is expected to be fit for the start of the Premier League season, and he will be able to maintain his fitness and prepare for the new campaign thanks to a tailored training programme.
“Jermain picked up a little thigh strain in one of the sessions,” explained Stockdale. “You would do very well to get through pre-season without these little niggles so hopefully – once he’s had a scan – we will be able to make an assessment.
“It won’t be a long injury and I’m sure Jermain will be keen to be fit for the first game of the season, and we are as well.”
He added: “At the moment it’s probably too early to say and we don’t think it’s anything serious, but obviously with a player like Jermain you don’t to take any risks.
“I’ve been on record before and said that Jermain is a fantastic professional who works hard at his game and his fitness, so there are no issues with that and we will work to replicate some of the stuff he can do so he will be out here working and he won’t have his feet up.
“It’s not a problem, we will deal with it and move on.”
Stockdale also provided an update on Patrick van Aanholt’s fitness after the left-back limped off during Sunderland’s 3-2 win over Dijon FCO.
“At the break Patrick felt some groin tightness but he said he’d have a go and see if it would loosen off.
“There is absolutely no major issues there; whether we risk him on Saturday will depend on how he settles down over the next couple of days, but he will be fit for Borussia Dortmund.”
