Sunderland could receive Chris Maguire boost ahead of clash with Doncaster

Posted Wednesday, April 17, 2019 by PA

Chris Maguire could return to contention for the first time since February when Sunderland host fellow promotion-chasers Doncaster.

Maguire has missed the last 11 games with a fractured fibula but is expected to be able to take his place in the matchday squad.

His return could be timely, with Aiden McGeady still a doubt with a foot/ankle problem and Lynden Gooch (hamstring) and Dylan McGeouch (muscle strain) still missing. But Lee Cattermole, who was an unused substitute for last Saturday’s 5-4 home defeat by Coventry, is fit.

However, Adam Matthews and Reece James remain on the casualty list.

Doncaster boss Grant McCann will have midfielder Ben Whiteman available to him for the first time in a month.

Whiteman has sat out the last five games with an ankle injury but has trained all week and is ready to return.

He will be joined by striker John Marquis, who missed last weekend’s 2-0 win over Plymouth under the Football Association’s concussion protocol, but has since returned to full training.

The game will come too soon, however, for defender Tom Anderson, who has recovered from a calf injury, but is likely to be held in reserve for Tuesday night’s home clash with Accrington.