Sunderland boss Jack Ross provides injury update on key trio and reveals when Lee Cattermole will return
Chris Maguire has returned to training and could be recalled at the Wham Stadium after recovering from a rib injury.
The game will probably come too soon for Lee Cattermole, who has been out since the end of October with a foot injury.
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Hide AdBut the midfielder will hope to be fit for next weekend's FA Cup replay against Walsall, while Charlie Wyke has also returned to training.
"Chris (Maguire) is ok, trained today," said Ross when asked about his squad's injury situation.
"Lee has trained a couple of days this week so all being well will come back into the squad for the Walsall game.
"Obviously he's been out for about a month but I've been really please with how he's looked in training.
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Hide Ad"Duncan has obviously just had his first game back, Charlie Wyke is back in full training.
"We're getting there, we've still got Ethan Robson, Denver Hume and Donald Love out but we're getting close to the healthiest we've been all season."
Wyke, who joined Sunderland in the summer, has been out since the end of September after suffering a knee ligament injury at Burton.
The 26-year-old striker had only just recovered from a previous injury, which he picked up before joining the Black Cats.
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Hide AdAnd Ross admitted he will be more cautious with the forward this time around.
"He's only really just started full training, he will be another couple weeks away from games," added Ross.
"Previously, I take responsibility, We rushed him back too quickly.
"It didn't impact on being re-injured, it was just his general fitness and his sharpness, that was my fault for doing that."
"This time we have to be more measured with him and he feels a lot better because of that.
"It means in a couple of weeks time I think you'll see a different player as well."