Chris Coleman says Duncan Watmore is ‘doing well’ as he continues his rehabilitation from a second ACL knee injury.
The energetic Sunderland winger was just six games into his return in November from the season-ending injury when disaster struck.
In emotional scenes, the 23-year-old was stretchered off against Millwall after, it later transpired, he suffered a reoccurrence.
Watmore has since undergone surgery on the problem and is working hard at the Academy of Light to make a full recovery and be back in action for the Black Cats next season.
But manager Coleman, drawing on his own experiences of long-term injuries as a player, is keen to make sure Watmore stays in and around the squad so he is not to feel too isolated.
Updating on Watmore’s well-being, Coleman revealed: “Duncan came to the Middlesbrough game recently, which was the plan to bring him to some of the games and to keep him involved.
“That is important because he is out long-term. Duncan is a cracking kid, he really is a great boy.
“What would you give to have him with us? I’m not just talking about his ability but as a person too, he is a really good person; good kid. Sadly, sometimes that is how it works.
“He is okay though and is in a good frame of mind and he is chipping away at his rehabilitation work.”
In just 322 minutes of action the England U21 international provided three assists for Sunderland, with his absence a huge miss for the relegation-threatened Wearsiders.