JACK ROSS has revealed Lynden Gooch and Aiden McGeady should be back for Sunderland’s League One date with Bristol Rovers on Saturday.

Both players missed the midweek FA Cup replay defeat to Walsall but have been training again and look fine to make a swift return against Rovers.

Duncan Watmore, after his second appearance of the season after recovering from a second cruciate knee ligament injury, will also be involved again according to Ross.

Rovers have this morning dumped manager Darrell Clarke - a former Hartlepool United team-mate of Ross. 

Sunderland are looking to get back to winning ways after winning just two of their last six games, form which has seen them drop out of the top two as well as the FA Cup.

Ross said: “I said I wouldn’t use that (tiredness) as an excuse for performance because we played against a team with a heavy schedule, in hindsight I should have refreshed the team more than I did.

“There was a strange atmosphere in the stadium from what we have been used to. There was different circumstances around the match but I wouldn’t make excuses.

“The one thing I have learned from my playing days is that you can’t get too high with highs and too low with the lows.

"It does stand you in good stead. Very few teams will go through undefeated. That’s including very good teams who have not managed to do that.

“You have to try to make sure you don’t get too despondent when you do lose a game. It is more encouraging the things they have shown for the bulk of the season.”

Now Sunderland face Bristol Rovers, with the oppposition just inside the relegation zone.

Ross said: “Irrespective of the teams’ league position we have faced, they have always reacted to playing at the Stadium of Light.

“I would imagine this challenge will be as tough as it has been for every home game. It is nice to be at home again after Tuesday, a disappointing display, we have not had to bounce back very often this season but when we have we have done it well. I would expect the same.”

On the injury front, Ross said: “Hopefully the ones absent during the week will be back like Lynden and Aiden. Lynden certainly, I will catch Aiden today. Duncan will be in the squad, it is a question of how we utilise him.”