Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is playing the waiting game with the club's long-term injury absentees. Fraizer Campbell, Michael Turner (both knee) and Lee Cattermole (back) are all working their way to fitness again after lengthy lay-offs and Bruce is keen to keep the process steady.
"It's a little bit too soon (for a first-team return) at the moment," Bruce told www.safc.com.
"We're delighted to see Fraizer, Michael and Lee in and around the training ground.
"If you look at pre-season, we have six weeks off and then six weeks of intensive training plus six or seven friendly games.
"That tells you when someone has been out for six weeks, two months, it's difficult to come back straight away.
"We can't rush them back, which would be easy to do. They've been out for a long time."
On-loan striker Danny Welbeck is also sidelined and continues to receive treatment.
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