The daunting challenge facing Lee Johnson when Sunderland return to League One action

Sunderland's performance at Lincoln City was a long overdue display of attacking intent, and over and above that, it gave Lee Johnson an early foothold.

An early indication that his squad could adapt to his ideas, as well as a settled team and template to build on.

We should have known it would not quite be that simple. Days later, Johnson was changing his team three times in one day.

The new head coach admitted that there were players coming into the squad to face AFC Wimbledon who, to be frank, he would not have recognised without outside intervention.

It's uncomfortable territory for a coach who prides himself on meticulous detail. Johnson's preparation for returning to management was forensic; it just so happened it had been for another club he had expected to be taking charge of.

That has been the one benefit of this enforced break, a chance to assess the squad more thoroughly and to get some tactical ideas across to players not part of the initial games after he took charge (albeit on zoom). He'll need it.

It remains unclear whether Sunderland will return to action on December 29th but even if it is early January, Johnson will be steeling himself for a period when a significant turnover in his team is inevitable.

Thirteen players have tested positive for COVID-19, and their return to training will be staggered.

Four senior players will not be able to leave isolation until the day of the currently scheduled trip to Accrington Stanley. All three of the club's goalkeepers have tested positive.

The examples of other clubs who have suffered an outbreak tells us that even for professional athletes, the impact of the virus can be long-lasting.

Of those who have tested positive, Johnson confirmed that two have had a challenging recovery and it goes without saying that an extended lay-off could be on the horizon.

Quite rightly, the head coach has said that player welfare will be put first no matter what the fixture schedule throws up.

Added to the mix is an injury list that has thus far prevented Johnson from selecting a clutch of players who look perfectly suited to his high-energy, attacking style.

Lynden Gooch won the admiration of his new boss for playing through the pain barrier against AFC Wimbledon, when he was around a fortnight away from returning to training after a foot injury.

Like Jordan Willis, the closing of the Academy of Light has made their recovery challenging and neither can be expected to be at their sharpest whenever Sunderland do return.

In the full-back positions, Luke O'Nien and Denver Hume are both scheduled for a return in the new year, but are unlikely to be available for the initial return to league action.

In Josh Scowen, Johnson had a player who understood his philosophy from a previous spell at Barnsley, and whose willingness to press was already an integral part of the new head coach's armoury.

Scowen's shin injury could keep him sidelined until February.

Johnson knew that his was a huge job, and the short-term challenges now look just as daunting as the long-term ones.

A message from the Football Clubs Editor

Our aim is to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative Sunderland AFC coverage 365 days a year.

This depth of SAFC coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to, please consider taking out a subscription to our new sports-only package here.

Your support is much appreciated. Richard Mennear, Football Clubs Editor