Mike Dodds confirmed Sunderland’s top two players ‘back in training’ ahead of the Championship run-in.

Sunderland interim manager Mike Dodds has given the Sunderland Echo a favourable update on injured first-team players Corry Evans, Bradley Dack, and Aji Alese.

Sunderland’s recent form has been poor, with six consecutive Championship defeats. Their form has left their season in limbo, with them sitting 12th in the table, seven points behind the play-offs and seven points above of the bottom three.

With nine games remaining, they’ll be looking to keep their dreams of finishing in the top six alive. To help them accomplish this, they will need their finest players to be fit and available.

So they will undoubtedly be encouraged by the news that first-team trio Evans, Dack and Alese are ‘back in training’ according to interim boss Dodds. Speaking to the Sunderland Echo, he provided a positive injury update.

“I think the break will be important because I think we will get two or three bodies back closer to the team,” he told reporters.

“Corry, Aji, and Bradley are back training with the team, which will be a tremendous boost for us heading into the Easter weekend. Bradley and Corry will play in the U21s on Monday; Aji will miss that game, but I believe he will play in one on Friday.”

Sunderland meet Queens Park Rangers at the Stadium of Light tomorrow afternoon, seeking to return to winning ways. However, it appears unlikely that the injured three will play just yet.

A massive boost for Sunderland.
Although their chances of making the playoffs appear to be over, a good run of form can propel any team back into contention. Sunderland will be trying to follow in the footsteps of teams that have won two or three games in a row.

As a result, the likely return of Evans, Dack, and Alese will increase competition for positions and quality in and around the first-team squad.

Of course, all three players have been out of action for a long period and will not want to aggravate their ailments. Rushing players back prematurely could cause this, thus the Black Cats will need to be careful with the trio over the next couple of weeks.