DICK ADVOCAAT could turn to Adam Johnson at Stoke City this afternoon but Sunderland’s head coach has been hit with the news that another of the club’s most expensive buys may miss the rest of the season.

On the same day it was announced Johnson remains available for selection after the winger was charged with three counts of sexual activity with a girl under 16, it was revealed that £12m striker Steven Fletcher has suffered a further problem to his ankle.

Despite the distractions Advocaat is confident he can lift his squad ahead of this afternoon’s trip to Stoke, where Sunderland know they must win or run the risk of slipping in to the Premier League’s bottom three with five matches remaining.

Johnson, a £10m signing from Manchester City, could still figure at the Britannia Stadium if he indicates he is in the correct state of mind to play in front of the media glare and a passionate Premier League crowd after the events this week.

The 27-year-old – who was described as “an important player” by Advocaat - will be asked whether he feels he is capable of playing after he was charged on Thursday afternoon.

Sunderland’s head coach, who has played him three times as a substitute since the club lifted his suspension, said: “He trained today but hasn’t trained every day. I’ve got a decision to make, yes. I have no doubt about his sharpness.”

Advocaat had earlier stated: “Adam Johnson is available. In principle if he feels OK he will be a member of the squad. The club made a statement and I stand behind that. Let’s see what the future will bring.”

Putting Johnson’s troubles to one side, Advocaat is desperate to guide Sunderland clear of the relegation zone before his initial contract as head coach expires at the end of the season.

And he is determined to ensure his team prove themselves good enough to stay up with or without Fletcher, who was due to see a specialist yesterday to examine the extent of his latest ankle flare up.

The Scotland international landed awkwardly when he jumped up for a header on the training ground this week and there are fears he will not play again in any of the club’s remaining fixtures.

Advocaat said: “He’s sore. He did it jumping. It’s his ankle. It’s not a concern, we have other players. The reason I say that is the players who aren’t there, we have to do it without them. If Fletcher comes back, we will do it with him.

“There is a chance he is out for the rest of the season, but you cannot feel sorry for yourself. What can you do about injuries? You’re not paid by this club because you’re a nice guy, you are paid because you are a good player.”

Danny Graham, Connor Wickham and Jermain Defoe are Advocaat’s other striker options and the return to fitness of Will Buckley provides an alternative on the wing. Emmanuele Giaccherini and Ricky Alvarez, however, remain sidelined.

He is considering a change of approach for the game, but a small squad makes it difficult to make wholesale changes.

Advocaat said: “You know the names, you know what we have got, but we still have a team that can do the job.”

He added: “We need more than 100 per cent from every player and they realise if they don’t give 100 per cent they cannot survive. We can’t do it with one player, we have to fight as a team and we can do it.”

The Sunderland squad have had the task of trying to improve morale after the crushing home defeat to Crystal Palace a fortnight ago.

How they respond to such an error-strewn display will determine what division they are playing in next season and three points at Stoke today would represent a huge boost at a crucial time.

Advocaat said: “We had a meeting the day after and we trained for the two days after and we explained where we had given the game away. It’s not possible to make those mistakes. Our disappointment was very high because you have to get the points at home.

“All due respect to Palace, they have a great manager, they are hardworking but they are not a team who are good enough to beat you 4-1 and that was so disappointing. You can’t give those chances again. You can be beaten by a better team, but you can’t give soft goals away.

“I’ve seen them training and they are giving everything they have. I can’t complain, but they have to do what we want during the games as well. That’s where you get the points, not on the training pitch.

“We have to take it game by game. We have to play Chelsea and Arsenal last and we know how difficult it will be, but the team stayed up last season because it picked up points in those games. We are all looking forward to seeing what I do after the Palace game.”