Sunderland manager Gus Poyet has confirmed that Steven Fletcher will delay his summer break in an attempt to make further progress in his battle with an ankle injury.

Fletcher struggled with injuries throughout the season, and it was an ankle problem which kept him out of the final stages of the campaign as the Black Cats managed to avoid relegation.

Due to his inability to return in time to help Sunderland's successful bid to climb out of the bottom three, Fletcher will now do extra work with the club's staff to ensure that he will be ready for pre-season.

"He's doing well, but, before he goes on holiday, he needs a minimum of two weeks training every day," Poyet told the Hartlepool Mail.

"He doesn't have to do it all with us – he can do a lot of it on his own.

"But it will be a few weeks before he can go away, when he's fully recovered."

Fletcher was restricted to just 13 starts for Sunderland this season.