Marc McNulty missed Tuesday’s Emirates FA Cup tie at Gillingham with a hamstring injury.
Phil Parkinson was without 10 first team faces for Sunderland’s 600-mile round trip to Priestfield Stadium, with four players also away on international duty.
That meant seven under-23 players were drafted in as Brandon Taylor, Jack Bainbridge and Lee Connelly featured in the extra-time defeat in Kent.
And speaking to safc.com, the Sunderland manager revealed why Scottish frontman McNulty missed out.
“Marc has got a tight hamstring,” he said.
“He has had a scan, there is no real damage to the muscle, which is good news but there is some tightness in there.
“Hopefully it will be resolved sooner rather than later.”
He continued: “I think he has a chance for the weekend.”
