Lee Johnson gives concerning Ross Stewart injury update and explains the latest on Tom Flanagan

Ross Stewart is a doubt for Sunderland’s play-off semi final first leg with a hamstring injury.
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Stewart had scored his second goal for the Black Cats at Home Park last weekend, and delivered his best performance yet as a Sunderland player in the 3-1 win.

It has therefore come as a significant setback for the Scot that he has suffered a grade two hamstring tear.

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Head coach Lee Johnson is encouraged by the 24-year-old’s recovery to date, and has therefore not yet ruled him out of the game at Sincil Bank.

Ross Stewart celebrates his goal at Plymouth ArgyleRoss Stewart celebrates his goal at Plymouth Argyle
Ross Stewart celebrates his goal at Plymouth Argyle

Johnson is looking to arrange a behind-closed-doors game for his side next Friday and hopes that Stewart could yet feature in that game.

“He's had a grade two hamstring injury,” Johnson said.

“In saying that, he's actually presenting very well in terms of his symptoms, he feels good.

“So that's one of the reasons we're considering having a bounce game on Friday so he can potentially have a bit of a sharpener.

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“It's just gone that way for us a bit, hasn't it? We can't feel sorry for ourselves, we've got to attack it like we know we can.”

Johnson also admitted that he has a ‘huge’ call to make on Tom Flanagan, who was unable to make his comeback in the 1-1 draw with Northampton Town.

Flanagan has not featured since the Papa John’s Trophy final against Tranmere Rovers, and is another who could feature next week.

"It's a difficult one with Tom,” Johnson said.

“The timing of it means that you're chasing it but he's got to feel right and be right.

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“I would have liked to have seen him in the game today in an ideal world, but that came a little bit early.

“We've got to make a serious call, whatever they might be, on three or four of the lads.

“That's my job, I suppose.”Johnson said he was encouraged by the return of Aiden McGeady and Charlie Wyke, who completed 45 and 60 minutes respectively after missing last weekend’s game.

Both are now expected to be fully fit for the play-off semi finals.

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