Welbeck to help ease Sunderland injury crisis

Danny Welbeck could return to the Sunderland squad for tomorrow’s tough Barclays Premier League trip to Arsenal.

Danny Welbeck could return to the Sunderland squad for tomorrow’s tough Premier League trip to Arsenal.

The 20-year-old, on loan from Manchester United, has returned to Wearside following his recovery from the knee injury which has sidelined him since January 5 and is likely to be included provided he suffers no reaction to resuming full training.

Welbeck and Fraizer Campbell (knee) are expected to play in a behind-closed doors friendly against West Ham next Tuesday, while defender Michael Turner (also knee) and Lee Cattermole (back) are building up fitness.

However, keeper Craig Gordon is to visit a specialist in Sweden next week over his niggling knee injury, while Bolo Zenden and Nedum Onuoha (both calf) are likely to miss out and David Meyler (knee) is yet to return to full training.

Provisional squad: Mignolet, Gordon, Bardsley, Richardson, Angeleri, Ferdinand, Bramble, Mensah, Muntari, Riveros, Henderson, Malbranque, Elmohamady, Sessegnon, Colback, Gyan, Welbeck, Noble, Knott.