SUNDERLAND winger Adam Johnson is expected to return from injury for Saturday’s Premier League clash with Burnley at the Stadium of Light.

In-form Johnson was missed when the Black Cats drew 0-0 at home to Fulham in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday, after a minor calf injury kept him on the sidelines.

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But the 27-year-old is likely to come straight back into the side, although boss Gus Poyet is pondering whether to persist with the 3-5-2 formation from Sunderland’s last two games or revert to a four-man defence.

Poyet will be without the suspended Jack Rodwell and is still waiting on the fitness of Lee Cattermole and Wes Brown, who both missed the Fulham game.

Cattermole has not featured during 2015 but is due to resume full training this week, while Brown has been suffering from a knee problem.

“I would like to say that Adam Johnson will be back, but we’ll have to wait on Wes and see what happens over the next few days,” said Poyet.

Poyet’s decision to replace Johnson with defensive midfielder Liam Bridcutt against Fulham drew criticism from supporters, with Sunderland struggling to create chances for front two Jermain Defoe and Steven Fletcher, the former Burnley striker.

But Poyet says he was planning to introduce either Emanuele Giaccherini or Ricky Alvarez from the bench before Rodwell was sent off.

“It changed the whole situation,” the Black Cats boss admitted.