Sunderland’s defensive options bolstered by returning duo

Follow us on Google Discover

Patrick van Aanholt and Lamine Kone are back in full training as the Black Cats prepare to face West Ham.

Sunderland’s Lamine Kone in action with West Bromwich Albion’s Salomon Rondon

Beleaguered Sunderland manager David Moyes has told the club’s official website that key defenders Patrick van Aanholt and Lamine Kone could be fit to play for his struggling side this weekend.

The Black Cats are still searching for their first league win of the season and sit rock bottom of the Premier League with just two points from their opening eight games, but Moyes provided some welcome good news on the injury front.

Sunderland’s Patrick van Aanholt celebrates

“Lamine Kone and Patrick van Aanholt have been training,” he said. “More importantly the likes of Seb Larsson are making really good progress and Vito Mannone is out doing some handling work.

“Cattermole is still injured but making progress, as is Kirchhoff – he pulled his hamstring and we thought it would be quite a serious one, 8-12 weeks – and we think it will be shorter than that,” he continued.

“The only one which isn’t on the horizon is probably Fabio Borini.”

Sunderland manager David Moyes looks dejected

Kone missed last weekend’s defeat at Stoke with a hamstring strain, with van Aanholt limping off during the first half of the 2-0 reverse at the Bet365 Stadium.

The news will be well-received by Sunderland fans, who have been understandably frustrated by their side’s performances so far this season.

A poor start has again left the Wearside outfit playing catch up with the rest of the division, and Moyes needs a win to ease the mounting pressure surrounding his position at the Stadium of Light.

West Ham’s London Stadium

With all this in mind, perhaps the London Stadium is the ideal location for Sunderland this weekend. West Ham have struggled in their new home to date, picking up just four points in as many games, and if the visitors can frustrate the crowd early on then they could earn a positive result.

Sunderland haven’t won at West Ham since May 2011, when a comprehensive 3-0 win rounded off their season on a high. A similar result tomorrow and the outlook would suddenly look a lot brighter on Wearside.