Sunderland Head Coach Tony Mowbray has delivered an update on the fitness of Lynden Gooch and Dennis Cirkin.
Gooch has been on the sidelines since the Lads defeat to Swansea City in January. The 27-year-old American, who is closing in on 250 appearances for the club, has been working his way back to full fitness and has been stepping up his training this week.
“He is going to train today but it is non-contact” Mowbray said. “When we get to the nitty gritty of the session he will probably drop out. He’ll do the passing, the warm-up, the possessional stuff.
“That will get built up over this week and he won’t be for this weekend. It may be for next weekend. He will have a full week’s training next week and then there is a chance of him being in contention for Norwich.”
While there is a timeline on Gooch’s potential return, the Club’s medical staff are approaching the side of caution on Cirkin.
The 20-year-old continues to suffer the after effects of a concussion he sustained in the Black Cats 1-1 draw with Millwall in February as he scored the equalising goal.
Mowbray continued: “It’s still a bit up in the air with his concussion situation. He’s had a scan and there is no damage but there is a protocol that we have to keep following and until he tells us that he’s got no symptoms, we’ll continue to follow those protocols.
“He doesn’t feel sharp and bright and we need to make sure he is telling us that he feels ready to go again. He will do non-contact training and join in but not be expected to win headers and make tackles.
“He’s feeling fine if you see him walking around the building but he’s still not 100%.”