Régis Le Bris handed potential £17.5million boost as Nilson Angulo nears return for Villa and Forest | OneFootball

Nilson Angulo is closing in on a Sunderland return, with a place in Sunday’s Premier League travelling party to Aston Villa possible, though minutes at Villa Park are thought unlikely. A home comeback against Nottingham Forest on 24 April is seen as the more realistic target.

Reports in Ecuador suggest the 22-year-old is in the final phase of his recovery and nearing a return to training. He was also pictured back on the grass at the Academy of Light last week.

The winger has been out since a muscle problem in the build-up to the 1-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion on 14 March. Régis Le Bris initially indicated a four to six week timescale.

Angulo missed several key fixtures, including the Tyne-Wear derby win at Newcastle United. The head coach is expected to be asked for an update at his next press conference before the Aston Villa game.

His rehab affected his international plans too. Named in Ecuador’s provisional squad for friendlies against Morocco and the Netherlands, he withdrew to continue treatment on Wearside.

Head coach Sebastián Beccacece confirmed during the international break that Angulo would leave the camp early to focus on recovery, and the forward returned to England with midfielder Patrik Mercado. Beccacece described both absences as significant.

Angulo joined from Anderlecht in January for a fee understood to be around £17.5million, after seven goals and eight assists in 30 Belgian appearances. He has five Premier League outings, three starts, without a goal or assist, across 264 minutes with expected goals of 0.50 and expected assists of 0.08.

Sunderland sit 10th, two points off sixth-placed Chelsea, with six games left, starting at Aston Villa then Nottingham Forest, Wolves, Manchester United, Everton and Chelsea. His return would add a wide option for the run-in, though early involvement is likely to be managed as he regains full fitness.

Source: Sunderland Echo