Jack Ross calms expectations over Sunderland’s Duncan Watmore

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Sunderland winger Duncan Watmore is due to make his return to first-team action soon.

Jack Ross has warned that Sunderland attacker Duncan Watmore could struggle in his first few weeks back in the team, through his comments in the Chronicle.

Watmore has been out for over a year with a cruciate ligament injury, but he is edging closer to full fitness now.

The 24-year-old has been back in Sunderland training in recent weeks, and there is great excitement about his impending return.

Watmore has previously proven a threat in the Premier League, so there is an expectation that he could be too much for League One defences to handle.

However, Ross thinks that Watmore could actually take a few weeks to get used to playing with his new teammates.

“They’ve seen him in training but until you actually play alongside them on the pitch, you don’t get to build those understandings so that will take time to develop,” Ross said.

“There could be a bit of a bumpy spell where he makes runs and they pass the other way, and vice-versa.

“So people’s expectations have to be tempered, but we will do our best to protect him in that sense.”

Even without Watmore, Sunderland have been in excellent form in League One over the season so far.

Sunderland are currently in second place in the League One table, as they look to straight climbing back up the leagues.

Ross’ side won 4-2 against Barnsley in midweek to further outline their promotion credentials.

Sunderland are next in action at the weekend, when they take on Walsall in the FA Cup.