TONY MOWBRAY is confident Ross Stewart and Dan Ballard are ready to play for the full 90 minutes of Sunderland’s Boxing Day game with Blackburn Rovers.

Both Stewart and Ballard made eagerly-awaited returns from long-term injuries as they left the substitutes’ bench during last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Hull City.

Ballard played for the vast majority of the game after replacing injury victim Danny Batth in the opening quarter-of-an-hour, but Stewart was only introduced on the hour mark as he made a goalscoring return to the side.

The pair are two of Sunderland’s most important performers, and while they are unlikely to play for the full 90 minutes of all three of the club’s forthcoming festive matches, their ability to survive the whole of the Boxing Day fixture with Blackburn should provide a major boost.

“I think they’re ready to play for longer,” said Mowbray. “I talk to those boys about how they’re feeling and where they’re at, and I think the opportunity is there now where we could play them both for 90 minutes.

“Whether we can play them both for three games in a week in a really tight schedule is another question, but we’ll assess that after every game.

“I think the squad are in a good place. They’re really sharp and bright, and the message is that they want to keep improving. I just think it’s good to have good players back out there in the pitch.”

Ballard replaced Batth at Hull’s MKM Stadium after his fellow centre-half suffered a calf strain that curtailed his involvement at an early stage.

Batth will not be involved against Blackburn on Boxing Day, and is unlikely to feature in the away double-header with Wigan and Blackpool. However, he could be part of the squad that travels to the North-West and is not expected to be sidelined for too long a period.

“I think he’ll be out for one to two weeks, two to three weeks, something like that,” said Mowbray. “He’s not out there training, but it’s not a bad injury, he’s not going to be months.

“I think it’ll be a couple of weeks, and he’ll be chomping at the bit. He might even be chomping at the bit to come with us to the two games away in the North-West. I don’t think he’s going to be ready for them, but he might surprise me.

“We have morning meetings with the physio department every morning where they give me updates, and their update at the minute is that it’s going to be ten to 20 days. It’s that sort of injury really, and he just needs to strengthen it back up and get back out on the grass.”

Alex Pritchard is also still absent, having missed the game at Hull City because of a calf strain of his own, but like Batth, the midfielder is not facing a lengthy lay-off.

“Pritch is running,” continued Mowbray. “He’s back out there running on his own, and I think there’s a fair chance he might come with us at the start of next week for the Thursday-Sunday games (against Wigan and Blackpool).

“He might come with us and be ready for them, but that’s still a bit touch and go. I think he’s maybe looking to train on Tuesday, and if he comes through that, he’ll maybe get on the bus with us on Wednesday.”

Elliot Embleton will be out of action for much longer than either Batth or Pritchard, with the midfielder having been due to undergo surgery yesterday to repair an ankle fracture that was accompanied by significant ligament damage.

The 23-year-old will begin his rehabilitation after the Christmas period, with Mowbray hoping he will be able to make a first-team return before the end of the season.

“I think Elliot’s due to be having an operation today to reposition the bone,” he said. “How’s he getting on? He’s been in. I think when footballers get a bad injury, there’s an emotion for them. They can’t do what they want to do, but I think you have to come to terms with that really quickly and get ready for your rehabilitation.

“The first obstacle for him was the operation to correct the breakage, and he’s getting that done today. Hopefully, he can try to enjoy his Christmas, and then his rehab will start pretty soon.

“Will we see him again this season? I think the hope is yes, but every player reacts differently to injuries so let’s see. Some are really good healers, some are not, so we’ll have to see how Elliot is, but I would hope we will see him before the end of the season.”