ELLIOT EMBLETON’S eagerly-awaited return from injury has been pencilled in for the latter stages of Sunderland’s forthcoming tour of the United States.

Embleton has become something of a forgotten man since suffering significant ankle-ligament damage during December’s 1-1 draw with Hull City.

The midfielder was sidelined for the entirety of the second half of last season, with the likes of Pierre Ekwah and Abdoullah Ba emerging in his absence to establish themselves as midfield regulars in Tony Mowbray’s first-team squad.

The 24-year-old remains one of the most talented players on Sunderland’s books, though, and his impending return will significantly boost Mowbray’s options ahead of the start of the new season.

Embleton was one of Sunderland’s key performers as they won promotion from League One under Alex Neil, scoring the opening goal in the play-off final win over Wycombe at Wembley, and had featured in every single league game prior to his injury at the MKM Stadium at the end of last year.

He is due to step up his recovery programme in the next couple of weeks, and will be part of the squad that will travel to the United States for a three-game tour later this month.

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Sunderland will line up against San Antonio, New Mexico United and North Carolina during their time in the US, and it is hoped Embleton will be able to play some part in at least the last of those games.

Provided he comes through that unscathed, he could put himself into contention for a place in the squad for the Championship opener against Ipswich Town on August 6.

“We haven’t got Ross Stewart, Corry Evans or Elliot Embleton,” said Mowbray, in an interview broadcast on Sunderland’s official media channels. “But I’m sure they’ll filter in as the season starts, and the likes of Elliot will filter into training before really, maybe on the American trip.

“I’m pretty sure Elliot will be available for the start of the season, or at least he might be available for it. He’s going to play some part of maybe the last game in the US. Let’s wait and see on that one.”

Nectarios Traintis and Trai Hume are still to return to pre-season training after their international exertions earlier this summer – Triantis represented Australia at the Toulon Tournament while Hume was part of the Northern Ireland squad for last month’s Euro 2024 qualifiers – but the pair should both be available to travel to the States.