LEE JOHNSON is confident that Charlie Wyke and Aiden McGeady will both be at full strength for the opening leg of Sunderland’s play-off semi-final.

The pair were absent from last weekend’s win over Plymouth Argyle, with Wyke nursing a thigh problem and McGeady struggling with a foot issue that has been troubling him for a number of weeks.

The injury issues sparked fears that the duo may struggle to recover in time for the opening leg of Sunderland’s play-off semi-final, which will take place on either May 18 or 19, depending on where they finish in the table after Sunday’s final game against Northampton Town.

At this stage, Johnson is still to decide whether either player will line up against the Cobblers at the Stadium of Light, but he is confident that with another week of recovery and training, they will be ready to line up in the opening leg of the play-offs.

“I’m pretty confident that if they get through Sunday fine, they’ll be as good as gold,” said Johnson. “And the rest will probably have served them well.

“I won’t be taking risks this weekend that are untoward. The risk-reward factor is going to be very important in all the lads’ minutes. We’ll be looking at McGeady, and whether he’s fit to give him minutes, and also Charlie, if he’s fit to get him minutes.”

As well as pondering whether to play his two leading attackers, Johnson is also mulling over the rest of Sunday’s starting line-up. He is minded to rest some of his more influential performers, although there are also a number of players who could do with getting some game time under their belt.

“There are a few things that are under consideration,” said the Sunderland boss. “We’re thinking about (Conor) McLaughlin, and whether it would be good to get him a few more minutes, and you’re also looking at (Tom) Flanagan who has had a week to ten days’ training. They’re ones that are probably 50-50 (whether they will play on Sunday).

“(Jake) Vokins is another consideration, and also (Callum) McFadzean, because he hasn’t played many minutes. There’s definitely a number of mini-dilemmas in there in a positive way, to just try to get us shaped up nice into the semis.”