SUNDERLAND winger Wahbi Khazri is not heading for an early return to Wearside after shrugging off an injury scare.

There were fears that Khazri’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign may have been over before it had even started when he was forced off in a friendly with Egypt at the weekend.

But the Tunisian FA have confirmed the 25-year-old will be involved in the finals in Gabon after medical tests revealed there had been no serious damage sustained by his ankle.

Despite feeling plenty of discomfort and the fact he was stretchered off against Egypt, the statement read that Khazri had suffered a ‘benign ankle sprain’.

Tunisia are due to start their tournament on Sunday against Senegal and he is a huge player for his country, having scored ten times in 28 appearances. They are also due to face Zimbabwe and Algeria in Group B.

Had Khazri’s problem been any worse he could have ended up being back in the North-East receiving treatment.

Sunderland boss David Moyes has lost Khazri, Lamine Kone and Didier Ndong to the Africa Cup of Nations and, depending on how they do, their absences could extend to mid-February.

Moyes has not overly relied on Khazri anyway, choosing instead to often name him on the bench. There has been talk this month that he could be sold, with Fenerbahce’s former Sunderland manager Dick Advocaat interested.

Moyes, who has fought off interest in West Ham for striker Jermain Defoe, is looking at ways to improve his own squad strengthening push and owner Ellis Short has indicated there will only be limited funds available this month.

Kone is arguably the squad’s most saleable asset at this stage, with Everton among the clubs keen on the £20m-rated defender.

The Ivory Coast centre-back has also been deemed fit to play in the Africa Cup of Nations, even though he had to sit out the weekend warm-up game with Sweden. Kone has not played since crashing into an advertising board at Burnley on New Year’s Eve.

Another player Sunderland are not keen to sell this month is goalkeeper Jordan Pickford – and the England prospect could be back in action before the end of the month.

Pickford was initially ruled out for eight weeks with a cruciate ligament strain at Old Trafford on Boxing Day and is making good progress in his recovery. That has prompted Moyes to think the highly-rated shot-stopper could be back sooner than expected.

No date has been put on his comeback, but there are hopes Pickford could be available again at the start of February at the latest.

Italian Vito Mannone has got his place back at this stage, although there are clubs interested in taking the former Arsenal goalkeeper back to Italy.