DUNCAN WATMORE has returned to full training and is back in contention for a starting spot in Sunderland’s crucial weekend relegation clash with Norwich City.

Watmore has been sidelined since damaging his ankle ligaments in February’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool, and has missed Sunderland's last seven games as they have tumbled deeper into relegation trouble.

The 22-year-old was one of the Black Cats’ few successes in the first half of the season, with his pace and direct running offering a potent attacking threat from the flanks.

He scored in the 3-1 home defeat to Norwich in the second game of the campaign, and with his general fitness not normally an issue, Allardyce could pitch him straight back into the action at Carrow Road.

“Duncan is back in training,” said the Sunderland boss. “Is he ready? Well, he’s not played in a game at all, but he’s trained all week. So in that respect, that means he’s ready.

“There’s no trouble with his fitness. You could leave him out for eight weeks and he could still run a marathon the next day.”

Allardyce has been trialling a number of different formations on the training ground this week, but with Sunderland going into Saturday’s game four points behind their opponents, who currently occupy 17th position, the Black Cats boss expects his players’ collective performance level to be more important than the formation they line up in.

“We talk about systems a lot, but it is how you perform in that system that counts,” he said. “If the individuals perform and make it work, we will cause Norwich a lot of problems.

“Clean sheets are still the big focus – the more we get between now and the end of the season, the better chance we will have of surviving. One goal will get us three points.

“Look at Leicester – they’ve had five clean sheets on the trot and extended their lead at the top. Playing more entertaining football doesn’t matter to Leicester because they’re getting results.

“If we can focus on getting clean sheets, then if we capitalise on one of our opponents’ mistakes and put the ball in the net, we get the three points.”