JEROME SINCLAIR is set to be included in Sunderland’s match-day squad when Fleetwood Town head for Wearside this weekend, even if there have been slight concerns over the timing of his return.

Sinclair made his comeback from the hamstring problem he picked up on the day victory over Charlton against Stoke City’s Under-21s in the Checkatrade Trophy on Tuesday night.

His 25-minute run out was not entirely with the blessing of the physiotherapy department, but manager Jack Ross was keen to give him some much-needed match action.

Ross was conscious of the game being an ideal opportunity for him to play competitively again, knowing there was not enough pressure riding on the result as there is in League One games.

And Sinclair emerged from the run-out unscathed, so there is every chance he will be in the 18-man pool of players to face Fleetwood – boosting the team’s attacking options.

He said: “It was slightly unexpected and a bit of a bonus to get him back so quickly. He’s progressed really well in the last few days, we had a bit of stand-off with the medical team in the nicest possible way.

“It was early to throw him in but he trained really well on Monday, and was desperate to be involved. We felt as if he could deal with it. He looked lively as well, that’s a big boost for us.

“He’ll certainly be part of the squad, if we hadn’t had this game he would only have trained and it would have been more difficult.

“But from what he did, he very much comes into our thoughts and that is a huge boost for us. With Jerome and Charlie Wyke, they’re still catching up fitness-wise but it gives us the chance to do different things in games which we’ve not had.”

Wyke was given 90 minutes against Stoke and that will have done him the world of good having only returned from a knee injury by making his first appearance on Saturday, when he scored the equaliser against Oxford.

He is competing with Josh Maja for the striker role and Sinclair also provides an option for that role, although he is more than likely going to be playing more of a supporting role to the front-man.

Sinclair is desperate to shine for Sunderland and help them to promotion having agreed to drop down to the third tier from Premier League club Watford, after spending part of last season on loan at Birmingham.

The former Liverpool youngster is keen to resurrect his career and because of his pedigree he is seen as a player who should be able to hold down a first team spot every week on Wearside, provided he is fit.