INJURY UPDATE: Prior to their matches against Norwich and Leicester, Sunderland has an injury boost as two long-term absentees are sighted in training.

The Sunderland team is getting ready for their Championship encounter at Carrow Road on Saturday against Norwich City.

After suffering setbacks to their injuries, Sunderland’s captain Corry Evans and defender Aji Alese were spotted on the training fields at the Academy of Light.

After sustaining damage to his anterior cruciate ligament, Evans has been out of action for more than a year, and Alese hasn’t played since January of this year due to an additional injury he sustained while healing from a thigh problem.

Evans, 33, participated in some light training last week, so Sunderland had him play for the club’s under-21 team before he returned to first-term action.

Before last weekend’s game against Swansea, interim manager Mike Dodds addressed Evans’ issue, saying, “I don’t want people to get carried away with that.” It was a really piecemeal kind of instruction. Seeing someone of Corry’s caliber train with us is encouraging news.

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.

With Dennis Cirkin and Niall Huggins still out with injuries, Alese’s return would give Dodds additional alternatives at full-back and center-back. However, Sunderland will probably be cautious with the 23-year-old’s workload after many setbacks.

Sunderland is getting ready for their Championship match at Carrow Road on Saturday against Norwich, followed by home games against Leicester and away games at Southampton.