Lee Johnson gets Jordan Willis boost as he gives full Sunderland injury update

The 26-year-old had to be substituted in the first half of Sunderland's 2-1 defeat to Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday night, and Johnson conceded afterwards that he was 'concerned' about the centre-back, who is managing patellar tendonitis.

With Tom Flanagan recovering from a broken metatarsal, the Sunderland head coach said he would have to manage Willis through the next few weeks.

The defender has recovered well from Tuesday, and at this stage is very much in Johnson's plans for what now looks to be a crucial League One game.

"I think so [he'll be available]," Johnson said.

"It's patellar tendonitis and anyone who has had that will know that it does react differently every day.

"He trained today and was fine.

"But you just don't know, he could wake up tomorrow and it be 1/10 pain, or it could be 8/10."

Lynden Gooch will be absent as he completes a period of self-isolation following a positive COVID-19 test last Friday.

Gooch will leave isolation on Tuesday, and has continued to be asymptomatic since his test.

Johnson has also offered an update on Danny Graham and Dan Neil, who have both been out of action with a knee and ankle problem respectively.

Graham is closing in on a return to action after rejoining his team-mates on the training pitch today.

Johnson is meanwhile confident that Neil has not suffered any long-term damage, but he remains sidelined due to swelling on the ankle.

The Sunderland head coach has already said that he is leaning towards keeping Neil at the club for the rest of the season, rather than loaning him out.

"Danny Graham is alright," Johnson said.

"He trained today which is a good recovery time because it had looked like a bit of a nasty fall.

"Dan Neil there isn't really much of an update on.

"He's still got swelling around the ankle and it's not a long term one, but we do need to get the swelling down before he can start to move a little bit freely."

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