JACK ROSS thinks Sunderland are in good shape going in to this Saturday’s visit of last season’s promotion rivals Portsmouth, having seen four attacking members of his squad find the net already.

The Black Cats are unbeaten in three matches at the start of the campaign - although the alternative view would be that they have not won either of their League One battles – ahead of Pompey’s visit to Wearside.

Sunderland are hoping to have Denver Hume and Dylan McGeouch available after they returned to training today after missing the midweek EFL Cup win at Accrington. They will still be without Duncan Watmore, Ethan Robson and Glenn Loovens.

The victory at Accrington was achieved with appearances from Aiden McGeady, Charlie Wyke and Max Power, with all three having made significant progress from injuries that blighted pre-season.

Ross said: “We have had players who are working their way back to fitness, Max Power is someone in that bracket, and he has caught up a week after playing Tuesday.

“Tuesday was a chance to get match fitness under the belt for a few. Those who came off the bench contributed too. It gives you good problems as a manger, if you have players in good form.

“You want your attack minded players to get on the scoresheet as quickly as you can then we have done that. Lynden Gooch has two, Marc McNulty, Aiden McGeady and Charlie Wyke have all scored, so that means four of our attack minded players have.

“That hopefully will bode well for this season. Aiden is closer to full fitness now after his appearance at Accrington. Charlie has just got back from injury. It helps us as a squad.”

Tuesday’s win was achieved with a number of changes from the team that drew at Ipswich, where Ross had to change formation at half-time in a bid to avoid defeat.

That has led to criticism of his tactics, and raises the question as to what formation he will play against Portsmouth having spent the summer fielding three at the back.

He said: “It’s not that important. I said this on Tuesday. It’s important for preparation, but the truth is you are damned if you do and damned if you don’t.

“There was a clamour to play a certain way last year, there will be a clamour to play a certain way this year … the appetite for change is non-stop.

“That’s why as a manger in this industry, you have to have a clear understanding of what is needed to win matches. We are working on things to make us more flexible and we feel we have done that and we will pick teams for every game.”