Sunderland manager Chris Coleman offered up an update on his injured players this morning, indicating that there could be a place in his starting eleven for Lamine Kone and Paddy McNair.
The pair have just fifteen Championship appearances between them this season and have continually struggled with niggling problems, but the gaffer hopes that they can add to his struggling side ahead of what is now a must-win game in Bolton tomorrow evening.
Perhaps one of the biggest issues we have faced in the majority of the games that we have lost this season has been our lack of physicality. But, Kone and McNair are two of Sunderland’s more athletic players and Coleman will be hoping that their presence in the side can offer us something different, and can perhaps give us a leg-up in what is undoubtedly a relegation six-pointer at the Macron Stadium.
In a conversation with the press today, the ex-Wales boss said:
Paddy will be back (training) with us today. He had a game on Friday for the Under-23s, which was good for him. He’s got a chance to be involved, and Lamine also. Adam and Jonny obviously came off the bench, and they’re back after being out.
Talking about what McNair and Kone could bring, he said:
If you look at the Championship, and what makes up most of the teams in this division, it’s a very physical league. They’re two big boys, and when they’re physically and mentally ready, I definitely think they’ll add to us. They’ll strengthen us, for sure.
Sometimes you look at us, and we probably look a bit short and small compared to the opposition, so if you put a McNair or a Kone in there, it helps. They’re big, physical boys, and that definitely helps.
Despite the return of players like Kone and McNair, Coleman confirmed that the game comes too soon for a number of others who have been missing from contention:
Marc Wilson is not ready, he’s not available, and unfortunately I don’t think Kaz (LuaLua) will be right either. He was unlucky. He already had a bad ankle, which he was carrying, and unfortunately he got another kick on it on Friday. I don’t think he’s going to be available tomorrow.