SALIS Abdul Samed is expected to start full training with Sunderland next week - but it could be a further fortnight before he's ready to feature for the Black Cats.

Samed has not yet been in a matchday squad since he joined the club in the summer, having arrived with a muscle problem and then suffering a recurrence of the injury in October.

The Black Cats have been patient and put the midfielder through a specific rehab programme, which is now coming to an end. But Le Bris won't rush the 24-year-old back into action and will first let him get a spell of full training under his belt.

Sunderland host Stoke City in the FA Cup third round on January 11, which could be a good opportunity to give Samed a first taste of the action, providing the next couple of weeks go to plan.

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Le Bris said: "Salis should train next week probably.

"It's difficult to say [when he'll be ready to play] because he was injured for five months now. It could be one or two weeks more, I don't know really."

Ahmed Abdullahi, who is also yet to feature since joining in the summer, is slightly behind Samed - with both having endured a frustrating few months.

"We'll have to wait two more weeks for him to be with the group," said Le Bris.

"He's training with the physical trainers.

"It's difficult when you are a good player and you know you can play in a good team and you're in the physio room all day.

But it has created opportunities for others. That's the way it is."

Le Bris is not yet able to put a timeframe on when he expects Romaine Mundle to be ready to return.

Mundle has been out of action since early November.

"With a hamstring injury we have to take care," said the head coach.

"If he gets a re-injury it can be very difficult for him, so we have to take care and wait a little bit more."