Jack Ross weighing up full debuts for Sunderland pair in season opener

Jack Baldwin is in contention to make his full debut against Charlton on Saturday

The pair have not yet featured for the Black Cats but both played a full part for Peterborough United and Wycombe Wanderers before sealing their move to Wearside.

With Ross facing a number of injury concerns ahead of the season opener against Charlton Athletic, he is tempted to include Baldwin and O’Nien, but admits Jerome Sinclair is ‘playing catch-up’.

Ross said: “Fitness-wise, they are OK. They have come from other clubs so they have been involved in pre-season, which is different to a free agent who might be catching up fitness-wise.

“The exception is Jerome who is still playing catch-up because he was really on the periphery at Watford, but the other two lads would have been part of what their clubs were trying to do for the start of the season.

“It’s more a case of adjusting to how we play and how we do things.

“They’ve both trained this week and they are both very much in contention because I have no issues over their fitness or their ability to handle the game.

“Jack has had loads of games at this level and Luke is someone who the fans will enjoy watching play because he has ridiculously high energy levels.

“Tuesday was the first day he [O’Nien] trained with us properly and he is different to what we have got.”

Ross has concerns over Ton Flanagan, Ethan Robson and Dylan McGeouch ahead of the game with Charlton. Aiden McGeady and Reece James will also be missing.