SUNDERLAND captain Corry Evans is on the road to recovery from a hamstring injury but this weekend comes too soon to make a return to the side. 

Evans has been out of action after limping off in the 2-1 win over MK Dons nearly a month ago and was expected to be back in around ten to fourteen days. 

But the club have been patient with him in his recovery and the 31-year-old didn't travel with the Northern Ireland squad over the international break as he worked back to full fitness. 

While the Black Cats boss would have hoped Evans would be be available for the top of the table clash against Accrington Stanley tomorrow, the club have used the time constructively to make sure they get the best out of the midfielder. 

Johnson said: “Corry is in a decent place to be fair.

“I think it would have been a bit too early for him. Obviously as Northern Ireland found out and Corry recognised to go and play and the sort of standard and level that a 39 cap international in big games.

“He’s done really well. What we’ve used it as really is like a mini pre-season for him. Don’t forget he missed a lot of the pre-season and we felt he was chasing minutes in games which probably lead to the tweak anyway.

“He’s such an important player for us. Really good player. I like him even more than I thought I did when I was looking at him to sign him as personality but more importantly as football intelligence for the team.”

The game is also expected to come too soon for Denver Hume who put pen-to-paper on a new contract this weekend. 

Sunderland, otherwise, have a clean bill of health as they prepare to host an Accrington side that are level on points with them in the table.