Sunderland boss Alex Neil provides injury update ahead of Sheffield Wednesday play-off clash

Sunderland manager Alex Neil has provided a key injury update ahead of his side’s League One play-off semi-final against Sheffield Wednesday.

The Owls go to the Stadium of Light on Friday, May 6 before the return leg at Hillsborough the following Monday, but Black Cats boss Neil will be left sweating on a few key players following their 1-0 win at Morecambe on Saturday. Left-back Dennis Cirkin was absent for the third game in a row on Saturday after picking up a calf injury, and Neil could well be without the 20-year-old for a crucial play-off clash.

"I would hope so," said Neil when asked if Cirkin could be involved, "but I can't really commit to anything right now - I don't know what the answer is. Let's say he has a chance, it's not one of those where we can just say he's out."

Fellow defender Callum Doyle, who is on loan from Manchester City, also missed out on Saturday’s victory through injury.

Neil said: "Callum missed out with an injury, hopefully it's not a serious one. I don't think it's too serious. We had a fitness test yesterday and he went out to try it to see if he could train for the game today but unfortunately he couldn't make it."

Everton loanee Nathan Broadhead grabbed the winner at the Mazuma Stadium before limping off later on, and Neil’s concern about the potential absence of the 24-year-old was clear.

Neil said: “The worry we've got now is we've finished the game with no centre forward on the pitch, I brought Stewart off because I knew the scores elsewhere. He's literally [our only striker].. I don't need to say anything else do I?”

Sunderland’s injured players have the best part of a week to recover before they host Darren Moore’s side on Friday.

Moore may have some injury worries of his own, with