TONY MOWBRAY admits it is still too early to say whether Elliot Embleton will be able to play again this season.

Embleton has been sidelined since suffering significant ankle damage during December’s 1-1 draw with Hull City at the MKM Stadium.

While the midfielder was not categorically ruled out for the rest of the campaign, it was feared he might struggle to play again this term, such was the severity of the injury as he fractured his ankle and suffered extensive ligament damage.

The early stage of his recovery has gone well, and it is hoped Embleton will be able to return to some form of training by April.

However, even if things go to plan, Mowbray is yet to decide whether it would be better to try to get the 23-year-old back in the team or allow him to remain on the training ground before returning to action in pre-season.

The Sunderland boss said: “Will Elliot play again this season? I’m not sure.

“He’s been back in the building. I saw him at lunch the other day. I think the timescale (for returning to training) is around a month before the end of the season in April.

“We’ll have to make a call later on, whether it’s worth him getting the confidence going into the summer that he’s actually fit and give him some game time, or whether we give him the extra weeks to get himself through the summer.

“Until he gets to that point where he’s around on the grass, we won’t make that decision until then, I don’t think.”