Regis Le Bris provides Ian Poveda update ahead of Sunderland v Norwich
Regis Le Bris has confirmed that Ian Poveda will be available for selection when Sunderland face Norwich City on Saturday afternoon.
With several injuries to attackers including Tommy Watson, Sunderland have been light in terms of attacking options with Romaine Mundle another absentee.
However, Le Bris will be boosted by the return of Poveda who is expected to be named on the bench for the Black Cats’ encounter with the Canaries on 21 December after comments made in his pre-match press conference as quoted on the Sunderland Club site (20 December).
“Ian has trained for just over a week now, so he’s in really good shape. He’s not ready to play a full game, but he can be a substitute,” confirmed Le Bris.
Poveda return could be a useful addition to Sunderland
With attacking woes more often than not being the talking point in recent weeks, his return to the squad can only be a good thing.
Since arriving on a free in the summer, his game time has been severely obstructed with injuries having played just 44 minutes of league action.
Eliezer Mayenda has been the chosen one to occupy the left winger role in the absence of Mundle and Watson although the return of Poveda will provide him with immediate competition despite the latter’s preference for playing on the right flank.
If Sunderland are to achieve promotion, having a full and healthy squad will be paramount and if Poveda is to have an impact this season, his fitness is going to need to be monitored to prevent a reoccurrence of the injury that has sidelined him for most of the campaign.
Whether he makes an appearance against Norwich may hinge on how the game is going but an inclusion is likely at some stage as the Black Cats look to maintain their unbeaten home run.
In other Sunderland news, one player looks set to depart Wearside in January.
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