Alex Pritchard is back in full training and will be fit for Friday's game against Hull City, according to Tony Mowbray. The midfielder played 75 minutes of Sunderland's draw at Burnley last weekend, but was a notable absentee when the club staged an open training session in front of more than 3,000 fans at the Stadium of Light on Monday.
Mowbray explained today that Pritchard has been suffering with a muscle problem but he has now resumed training and will be ready to face the Tigers on Wearside. "Pritch is a little bit on and off with a few niggling little things," said Mowbay.
"He trained fully today, did the whole session, but he didn't train the other day because he was feeling a bit tight and there was no need to take any risk because we've got some big games coming up in the next four days or so. We'll manage that situation, but he is going to be available."
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Left-back Dennis Cirkin will also be available against Hull after he came off the bench to make his comeback from the after-effects of concussion in the game at Burnley. Cirkin played the final few minutes at Turf Moor but on Monday night he played the full 90 for Sunderland's U21s in their win against Nottingham Forest U21 at Eppleton.
While Cirkin is now fully fit, Mowbray hinted that the 20-year-old may have to wait for a place in the starting XI with Lynden Gooch slotting in at left-back against the Clarets and turning in a man of the match display. Mowbray said: "We're managing Dennis through training, he played 90 minutes for the U21s on Monday night and he is going to be fit and available on Friday.
"He'll have to wait for his opportunity and that might come in the next few games, because the games come so thick and fast. Lynden Gooch is not long back from an injury and he came in [at left-back] and did very well for us.
"We have to be mindful of players who have been out with injuries and there will be opportunities for us to rotate in the coming games."
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