SUNDERLAND have received a positive assessment of Ellis Simms’ foot injury – with the striker having an outside chance of featuring in tomorrow’s game at Watford.

Simms hobbled out of Wednesday’s 3-0 win at Reading after damaging his toe in the first half, and it was initially feared the Everton loanee might have suffered a fracture that would have kept him on the sidelines for a lengthy spell.

That has not proved to be the case, and after a day of rest yesterday, the forward is due to take part in at least some light training this morning.

That could enable him to feature in the squad for tomorrow’s game at Vicarage Road, although with Ross Stewart set to be sidelined for at least another month-and-a-half, Tony Mowbray is understandably reluctant to take any unnecessary risks.

“We’re hoping he’s going to be okay,” said the Sunderland head coach. “It’s going to be a case of him getting his boot on – seeing what it’s like.

“I’ve just been talking to him there at breakfast. He’ll have a jog about on the grass today, and we’ll wait and see.

“If the worst comes to the worst, and he can’t make the game tomorrow, we’ve got a break for two weeks and I’m sure he’ll be fine after that.

“It’s touch and go (for the Watford game) as I sit here now – it’ll depend on our training session this afternoon and how he goes in that.”