The Elland Road defender has been sidelined for the Stadium of Light side due to a slight tear in his thigh muscle.
Sunderland boss Phil Parkinson has issued an update on the fitness of Leeds United loanee Laurens De Bock, as quoted by the Sunderland Echo.
The Elland Road defender has missed the first two games of the new Stadium of Light manager’s tenure due to a slight tear in his thigh muscle.
Parkinson was able to divulge good news on the Belgian, deeming him ‘not too far away’ from fitness, but will remain on the sidelines alongside Lynden Gooch and Charlie Wyke this weekend.
“He’s been running today,” Parkinson told his pre-match presser. “I’ll have a meeting later on with all the medical staff but he’s been running so he shouldn’t be too far away. We need all those players who are injured [back]. We’ll need everyone through this period.”
In De Bock’s absence, Denver Hume impressed for Sunderland in the 5-0 win over Tranmere and Parkinson added: “I thought he was very good the other night, he’s determined to keep hold of that shirt and he’ll know that Laurens is coming back and that will be a challenge for him.”
The 26-year-old Elland Road on transfer deadline day this summer to link up with the Mackems on loan, having only made only seven appearances for the Whites since joining in January 2018 from Club Brugge, for whom he played more than 100 times and featured in Europe (BBC Sport).
To date, De Bock has made three appearances for Sunderland’s first team, according to Whoscored.
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