Sunderland have provided a big injury boost to their fans, with their recent post on Instagram showing Nathan Broadhead having returned to training.
The youngster had joined the Wearside club on loan back in August from Everton on a season-long deal, however, he hit a major setback just a couple of months ago.
Who would you rather start for SAFC?
Nathan Broadhead
Jermain Defoe
Playing in the Carabao Cup against Premier League outfit Arsenal, Broadhead sustained a serious hamstring injury which the manager at the time, Lee Johnson, described as ‘a disaster’.
An update on the potential return of the 23-year-old was provided on Instagram, with a photo of the striker training with his parent club and captioned with the ‘back’ and ‘soon’ emojis.
The injury will have come as a huge frustration for all, but in particular, for the 23-year-old himself, who had already got his name on the scoresheet in the game at the Emirates Stadium.
And the youngster had made an impressive start in League One for the Black Cats, having found the back of the net five times in the 12 appearances he made under Johnson (via Transfermarkt).
Despite returning to his parent club to undergo his rehabilitation, Broadhead will return to the Stadium of Light in due course, with his loan deal still having a number of months remaining.
With their spot in the top six of League One under serious doubt, Sunderland’s attacking threat is a big concern given they have failed to score more than once in a game since 8th January.
And given Jermain Defoe has failed to hit the ground running amid his staggered return due to fitness concerns, could Broadhead be what Sunderland need to seal their spot in the play-offs?
In other news: ‘Thankfully’ – Echo journalist shares potential ‘big’ injury boost for Sunderland