SUNDERLAND have been boosted by the news that Adam Johnson’s shoulder injury is not as bad as initially feared.

Johnson damaged his shoulder in last weekend’s 4-2 defeat at Leicester City, and while the extent of the problem did not become apparent until the start of this week, an initial series of tests suggested the winger would be sidelined for three months.

However, subsequent examinations have ruled out the need for surgery, and it is now hoped Johnson could return within six weeks, a timescale that would potentially mean him missing no more than five Premier League matches.

Black Cats head coach Dick Advocaat said: “It is not as bad as we expected. He’ll be out for at least six or seven weeks, but at first they (the medical staff) said at least eight and it could have been even worse if he needed an operation. It is better than we expected.”

Jordi Gomez faces at least another two or three weeks on the sidelines, but the midfielder returned to light training yesterday.

Advocaat said: “Jordi is training now, from Wednesday, so he will be a matter of weeks. The rest are all fit.”

Advocaat is expected to make changes for tomorrow’s home game with Norwich City in the wake of last weekend’s capitulation at the King Power Stadium, with Yann M’Vila having been added to the squad following his transfer from Rubin Kazan.

M’Vila was dismissed for a head-butt in a development game with Norwich last weekend, but the red card does not preclude him from appearing for the first team tomorrow.

Advocaat said: “M’Vila is involved in the squad. We have discussed what happened at Leicester, and against Norwich they have to show me what they can do.”