Sunderland have a near-clean bill of health going into this weekend's League One play-off final, according to Alex Neil. The Black Cats take on Wycombe Wanderers at Wembley on Saturday, with a place in the Championship at stake.
And Sunderland boss Neil will have close to a full-strength squad to choose from, barring one or two long-term injuries who were ruled out for the remainder of the season months ago. Versatile defender Carl Winchester has been pictured in training this week after recovering from the groin problem he suffered a month ago, and Neil confirmed this morning that he could come into contention for the game.
Neil said: "We've got a clean bill of health, probably for the first time. People we didn't expect, like Winnie [Winchester], are available, too."
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On-loan Everton striker Nathan Broadhead made his return from a niggle as a late substitute in Sunderland's play-off semi-final second leg game at Sheffield Wednesday, and he came through that outing without suffering any reaction to the injury and is therefore available. The only absentees will be long-term casualties Jordan Willis (knee tendon) and Niall Huggins (heel) who have not been out for the entire season in the case of Willis, and virtually the entire season in the case of Huggins.
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