Regis Le Bris is ready to pitch winger Romaine Mundle back into the first-team mix against Hull City on Saturday after more than three months on the sidelines.
Mundle, 21, has been absent with a hamstring injury since early November but was an unused substitute on Monday when the Black Cats were beaten in stoppage time by Championship pacesetters Leeds.
But following another week on the training ground, Mundle is firmly in contention for a return against the Tigers on Saturday (12:30 GMT).
"Romaine should be OK now," Le Bris said. "We felt against Leeds it was just a little bit too soon.