Dick Advocaat refused to be drawn on questions surrounding Adam Johnson's possible inclusion in the Sunderland squad for Saturday's trip to West Ham.
Johnson has not played since he was arrested and later bailed on
suspicion of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl at the start of
this month.
Police have extended Johnson's bail until April 23
and, after liaising with the PFA and the player's representatives,
Sunderland agreed that the winger would be allowed to resume training.
"What I always do, I pick the squad after the final session," Advocaat
told reporters. "Every player who trains has an opportunity to start
versus West Ham.
"We still have some injuries, we don't know exactly who will join us."
Advocaat was appointed earlier this week after former incumbent Gus
Poyet departed in the wake of the 4-0 home thrashing at the hands of
Aston Villa.
That defeat left Sunderland just a point and a
place above the relegation zone, but the experienced Advocaat says he is
relishing the task ahead.
"I'm looking forward to the
challenge, this is a great football club," he said. "I'm a coach that
likes to control games. I have seen Sunderland have not done a lot of
that. It needs to change.
"The fans need to know something is
changing. We need them behind us, they can be our 12th man. We must show
them what it means to us."
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