LEE CATTERMOLE and Chris Maguire are set to be available for Sunderland’s Good Friday game with Doncaster Rovers, but Aiden McGeady remains a major doubt despite having been a second-half substitute in last weekend’s home defeat to Coventry City.

Cattermole, who was an unused substitute last Saturday, has had a full week’s training and is expected to return to the starting line-up in two days’ time.

Maguire has also been able to train with his team-mates this week, having completed his recovery from a fractured fibula, and should be in contention for a starting spot against Doncaster.

Lynden Gooch, Adam Matthews and Reece James trained this morning, but Monday’s trip to Peterborough United could be a more realistic comeback opportunity for the trio.

And while McGeady came off the bench against Coventry, his inability to train this week means he is a key doubt for both of Sunderland’s Easter games.

Sunderland boss Jack Ross said: “We’ve had a lot out recently, and some have benefited from the week’s training.

“For example, Lee Cattermole should maybe not have been in the squad last weekend because he’d only returned to training at the end of the week, but we were so short on numbers we probably needed him just in case. He’s had a full week of training this week, so he’s much more in contention.

“Aiden is still not training, so he remains extremely doubtful. We obviously managed to get a little bit of game time out of him last Saturday, but probably shouldn’t have.

“We’ve got a few that are just returning to training today – Lynden, Adam, Reece – but have had injuries and have been out for quite a long time, and Chris Maguire probably falls into that bracket too.

“There are a few that have returned to training today, which is the equivalent of a normal Thursday for us. It’s quite close to the game so we’ll see how they’ve come through and decide whether they can be around things. I would hope a couple might be, but there’s a couple it will probably be too soon for. If they’re not right for Friday, hopefully they’ll be in stronger contention for Monday.”

Maguire had hoped to return last weekend, but Sunderland’s medical staff did not want to push the forward too much given he has now spent two months on the sidelines.

Ross said: “That (last weekend) was the goal he had set and he did return to training prior to the Coventry game, but he’s been out for eight weeks now, which is quite a long period of time.

“You’re playing catch up in terms of general fitness, but also in terms of your awareness and touch and everything. He’s had a full week and much more in contention to be involved in the squad than he would have been last Saturday.”