Gus Poyet: 'Steven Fletcher is not ready to play 90 minutes'

Gus Poyet has revealed that he is not yet willing to allow Steven Fletcher to play a full match for Sunderland following a battle with an Achilles injury.

The Black Cats take on Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon and Poyet claims that it would not be wise to hand the striker a place in the starting lineup.

"Steven is fit but if you are asking me if he is ready for 90 minutes, then no, he is not," Poyet told reporters.

"It would be a massive risk to play him from the beginning.

"But Saturday is an important day for me to look at him and to define how we can use him."

Fletcher is facing a battle to be ready to start the Capital One Cup final against Manchester City on March 2.