Elliott fitness is improving

Sunderland striker Stephen Elliott is expected to be back in full training for the Black Cats from the beginning of pre-season training in July.

Elliott has played just three times for Sunderland since November after a rash of problematic injuries.

He underwent surgery on his latest complaint, an ankle injury, last month and the club's physiotherapist expects the young Dubliner to make a complete recovery.

Pete Friar said: "Stephen's doing really well and should be back in full training for the start of pre-season. He had a CT scan and we went ahead with the procedure because he was having pain in his ankle which just wouldn't go away. The surgeons found spurs of bone in the ankle which were causing him pain with his medial ligaments.

"The good news was that there was no damage to the joint - which there easily could have been - and that has allowed him to make a swift recovery. He's just about ready to go home now, where he'll be given a rehab programme to follow, but all the signs are at the moment that he's going to be fully fit for the start of pre-season."