Two long-term absentees were sighted in training as Sunderland’s team got ready for their Championship fixture on Saturday.

Sunderland captain Corry Evans and defender Aji Alese have both been pictured on the training pitches at the Academy of Light following injury setbacks.

Evans has been sidelined for over a year after suffering damage to his anterior cruciate ligament, while Alese hasn’t featured since January this year, when he picked up another injury after recovering from a thigh issue.

Sunderland had planned for Evans, 33, to play for the club’s under-21s side before returning to first-term action, after the midfielder took part in some bit-part-training last week.

Prior to Swansea’s match last weekend, interim manager Mike Dodds spoke about Evans’ issue and said, “I don’t want people to get carried away with that.” The instruction was very much piecemeal. The news that someone of Corry’s caliber is working with us is encouraging.

Dan Neil and Pierre Ekwah have started in the Black Cats’ engine room on a regular basis, which has left Sunderland without depth in central midfield this season. Evans’ contract is slated to expire this summer, but he may see some action before the season is out. Evans was a major contributor to the team’s promotion to the Championship.

Alese’s return would give Dodds more options at full-back and centre-back, with Dennis Cirkin and Niall Huggins still sidelined, yet Sunderland are likely to be careful with the 23-year-old’s workload following multiple setbacks.

Sunderland are preparing for Saturday’s Championship match against Norwich at Carrow Road, before a home fixture against Leicester and away match at Southampton.