Where Ethan Robson stands at Sunderland after recent injury blow

Robson has not featured since returning to the club from a successful loan at Grimsby Town in the first half of the season.

The 23-year-old is due to return to training on Monday, but has missed two weeks of training with a thigh problem.

Crucially, the midfielder also missed the chance to impress Phil Parkinson and his backroom staff in a behind-closed-doors friendly at the Academy of Light earlier this week.

A number of fringe players impressed in a 5-2 win over Carlisle United, with the likes of Declan John and Tommy Smith playing 60 minutes.

Antoine Semenyo, Kyle Lafferty, Will Grigg, Josh Scowen and Benji Kimpioka were all on the scoresheet.

“Ethan has had a thigh strain for the last couple of weeks,” Parkinson said.

“He'll be back in training on Monday.

“He's one who missed the game on Wednesday which was a real shame.

“Ethan has missed about two weeks of training.

“Conor McLaughlin was also ill on Wednesday and didn't play.”

Robson had been due to return to Ian Holloway’s Grimsby for the rest of the season, but the deal was stopped with Grant Leadbitter granted a leave of absence for personal reasons.

Parkinson also had a concern over George Dobson, who had nine yellow cards at the time and was therefore on the brink of a two-game suspension.

He has played five games since then without a booking, and has four games before all yellow cards are wiped.

“When I got to the ninth yellow card the gaffer spoke to me and just said to try and play with a bit more calmness and that's just what I've tried to implement into my game since he said that," Dobson said.

“If I need to go into a tackle obviously I still will, but it's just been at the minute that there hasn't been an occasion where I've mistimed one and got the card.

“So yeah, hopefully for me personally, obviously, I don't want to miss a game, I can ride through these next few.”