Chris Coleman has tipped Jonny Williams to play a big role for Sunderland when he returns to action.
The Wales international, who Coleman handed his senior debut to in 2013, required shoulder injury in November after falling awkwardly in a 2-2 stalemate with Millwall.
Duncan Watmore was also forced off as the Black Cats were rocked with two long-term casualties just 24 hours before the Welshman took the reins on Wearside.
And after seeing Williams return to training, Coleman recalled watching from afar as his squad was depleted before he set foot in the Stadium of Light.
“I remember getting a phone call from Kit because he came to the game against Millwall before I was unveiled on the Sunday,” explained the Welshman.
“I was calling him throughout the game asking how’s it going, what’s happening, but then he just said ‘look, call me at the end – something’s happened’.
“Then he gave me the news and it was devastating because in our position they’re two players we could really do with.
"It’s a huge boost for us to have Jonny back in training," he continued.
“We’ve been badly lacking strength in depth over the past few weeks, but he was back in training today – not fully – and he was integrated back into the first team and he did most it.
“The good thing about a shoulder injury is that he’s been on his feet and doing lots of running, so it’s the contact that will be the real acid test – when he falls down or when he has a bit of contact with another player.
“Fingers crossed, though, because he’s ahead of schedule and we need his help, that’s for sure.”
Coleman also acknowledged that a lack of cutting edge in the final third has stunted his side’s creativity and often left the frontmen isolated, but it’s a void he believes Williams can fill.
“He can [play a big role] because you can’t always kick it from the goalkeeper from back to front.
“There’s a time to do that, of course there is, but there’s also a time to play through midfield and you just have to find that balance.”
He continued: “I feel like we’ve been in some good areas where we can play through the lines and get through with a bit more conviction and focus.
“A player like Jonny can change the dynamics, that’s for sure, and he gets a lot of free-kicks because he commits defenders – like Duncan with his pace and energy – so for the way we want to play these two are perfect.
“We haven’t had them and we won’t have Duncan for longer, unfortunately, but Jonny will be back very soon.”