Revealed! When Lynden Gooch will return to Sunderland training as Phil Parkinson provides BIG injury update
Phil Parkinson has been handed a double injury boost ahead of Sunderland’s trip to Gillingham this weekend.
The two sides meet in League One at Priestfield Stadium on Saturday, with the Black Cats searching for a first win in six fixtures in all competitions.
Sunderland have faced the Gills twice already this campaign, drawing at the Stadium of Light in the FA Cup first round before losing the replay away from home last month.
But Parkinson has been handed a double injury boost with two key attackers in contention to feature against Steve Evans’ side, who sit 15th in the third-tier – four places and five points behind Sunderland.
Speaking ahead of the fixture, Parkinson said: “I felt it was important mentally and physically to have that couple of days on the training ground.
“I’ve been really pleased with the team and the injured players who have come back in and joined in with us.
“Charlie Wyke and Marc McNulty have trained this week with no reaction which is great news for us,” Parkinson explained when asked who could feature against Gillingham.
The manager then offered an update on attacking midfielder Lynden Gooch, who has been absent since the 5-0 win over Tranmere Rovers with a ligament problem.
“Goochy is getting ever closer, it’s really positive to have a couple of strikers on the training ground.
“He is looking good. Brandy [Peter Brand], the physio, is really pleased with him. So we’re hoping he’ll come back into training sometime next week.”