New signing Patrick Roberts could be in line for his Sunderland debut against Bolton Wanderers next weekend.
The winger joined the Black Cats from Manchester City on Friday but was not included in the matchday squad for yesterday's win against Portsmouth, although he did take part in the warm-up.
Roberts spent the first half of the season on loan at French Ligue 1 club Troyes but has had very little first team football, and Johnson wanted to give him time to get fully up-to-speed rather than throw him in at the deep end as Sunderland chase promotion.
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The 24-year-old has spent the week on Wearside but will have a full week's training under his belt by the time Sunderland head to the University of Bolton Stadium on Saturday and he may be named on the bench.
"Patrick was champing at the bit to be on the bench yesterday, and we had a big discussion about it between the football and the medical departments," said Johnson.
"The biggest problem is that he has been idle for six or seven days while this [his move] was being sorted out, so we felt that with the tempo we expected the Portsmouth game to be played at meant it wasn't the right game for him.
"He will have had eight or nine days' training by the time we go to Bolton, and I would hope that, if everything runs smoothly, he will potentially be available to be on the bench next weekend."
Roberts is one of three new arrivals on Wearside this month, following the additions of centre-back Danny Batth from Stoke City and full-back Trai Hume from Northern Irish side Linfield.
Batth made his debut and played the full 90 minutes in the 1-0 win against Pompey, while Hume is still waiting for his first-team debut although he has been an unused sub in Sunderland's last two games.
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