Insider: Sunderland may be set for further Ross Stewart twist after news from training ground
Ross Stewart may be fully fit but will not return to action for Sunderland until he is “100 per cent” psychologically ready.
That is the view of medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in injury and data analysis, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
Stewart has not featured for Sunderland since August and almost made his return from a thigh injury in the 2-1 defeat to West Brom on Monday (12 December).
As quoted by club media on Thursday (15 December), Tony Mowbray revealed he is backed in full training but could not confirm if he will play a role against Hull City on Saturday (17 December).
“We talk about return to play decisions being player-led,” Dinnery told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“Sometimes in baseline testing we see players who are returning from injury passing the tests and sometimes surpassing expectations but maybe psychologically, the player is not in the right frame of mind.
“They are not ready to commit, they are not ready to return to play even though there is nothing in the imaging or the testing. They are fine, for all intents and purposes.
“Psychologically the player might need that opportunity to focus and take a step back before returning to play.
“I think that was certainly the case here. Psychologically he did not feel he was in the right place, there was a bit of discomfort and the decisions are player led.
“That’s great that Tony Mowbray was able to listen to his player and offer his assurance that he won’t be thrown in if he did not feel 100 per cent comfortable.”
In other news, Sunderland have made a move to sign an Aston Villa star and he may go in January.