Brown (knee) is back in full training and will be back in the squad for Saturday's match against Watford.

The center back has played in just one match this season, getting the full 90 against Everton, but due to injury, ineffectiveness or other, has yet to get into another match. His return to full training should help give manager Sam Allardyce more options, but it's unclear as to what Brown's role would be even when healthy.

Brown has been ruled out for the final three games of the season after aggravating a previous knee injury last weekend against Everton, the Newcastle Chronicle reports.

Brown missed six weeks due to the injury and finally made his return last weekend, only to hurt it again. John O'Shea is expected to replace him in the lineup.

Manager Dick Advocaat said Thursday that Brown could return from his knee injury in 4-to-5 weeks.

Advocaat said it might be tough for Brown to make it back before the end of the season, but any time before the conclusion would be good for Sunderland, who continue to try to battle out of the relegation zone.

Brown, who was mistakenly sent off during Saturday's match against Manchester United, had his red card rescinded, the FA announced Monday.

Brown was given the red for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, but the FA disagreed, and he will now be eligible to play Tuesday against Hull City.

Brown picked up a straight red card in the 2-0 loss to Manchester United Saturday

Brown made a tackle on a clear goal scoring opportunity and subsequently picked up a red card along with conceding a penalty. Brown is always good for at least one red card a season and he'll miss the next three matches due to his indiscretion. Look for him to return April 5th, when Sunderland host their arch-rivals Newcastle.

Brown was used as a sub for the injured van Aanholt and had an unfortunate own goal in the 3-1 win over Crystal Palace Monday.

Brown was doing some sloppy defending when he accidentally heeled in a rebound shot off the post and into the back of the net. Brown is susceptible to own goals and may have lost his starting role, so he is completely off limits for fantasy at this point.

Brown registered his first clean sheet of the season in Sunderland's scoreless draw with Burnley on Saturday.

The Sunderland defense hasn't been great this season but got the shutout against a Burnley side that has struggled even more to score. Sunderland are much better at home, where they will face Swansea and Stoke in the next two weeks, though the former will be a tough team to blank.