All the latest updates on Sunderland’s injured players ahead of their game against Huddersfield Town at the Stadium of Light
Sunderland take on Championship strugglers Huddersfield Town at the Stadium of Light in midweek, with the Black Cats looking to put their weekend defeat at Plymouth Argyle behind them. Tony Mowbray’s men resumed their campaign at Home Park following the international break, but, despite dominating the game against the Pilgrims, they ended up losing 2-0 in Devon to slip out of the play-off places and down to ninth in the table.
Wednesday’s game gives them a chance to get back on course against a Terriers side that has won just one of its last 11 games and is perched just one place and four points above the relegation zone. Defender Dan Ballard had an injury doubt ahead of the game at Plymouth, but he has proved his fitness by starting the game and completing the full 90 minutes.
And teenage midfielder Chris Rigg has returned to the North-East following his involvement with England for the U17 World Cup in Indonesia, although whether Mowbray brings him straight into the squad against Huddersfield or allows him extra time to recover from his travels remains to be seen.
The Black Cats also still have a number of players out of action through injury, with defender Aji Alese expected to be the next to return in the coming weeks. Mowbray gives an injury update before every game, and here, ChronicleLive has pulled together the latest information we have on the situations of the players who are currently in the treatment room at the Academy of Light.
Aji Alese
Defender Alese picked up a thigh injury in Sunderland’s home defeat against Stoke City in April. The 22-year-old was fast-tracked to return in the Black Cats’ play-off semi-final second leg at Luton Town and came off the bench for the final half-hour at Kenilworth Road, but suffered a recurrence of the injury in that match.
Mowbray said on November 10 that Alese could be back in contention before the end of November, although he will need some gametime with the U21s first.
Dennis Cirkin
Sunderland’s Dennis Cirkin applauds the travelling fans at full-time at West Brom
Cirkin was due to start against Birmingham, which would have marked his return to the starting XI for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury in early September. But the defender felt the injury during the warm-up and pulled out shortly before kick-off.
Mowbray said on November 23 that Cirkin had yet to resume training and would likely be out for ‘a few weeks’.
Jewison Bennette
Jewison Bennette of Costa Rica looks on during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group E match between Japan and Costa Rica at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium
Winger Bennette was away on international duty with Costa Rica but returned suffering from illness. Mowbray said on November 23 that Bennette was under doctors’ orders to stay away from the training ground, so he was not involved at Plymouth, and it is not yet clear if he will be available against Huddersfield.
Midfielder Matete sustained a knee cartilage injury during Sunderland’s pre-season game against North Carolina and has since gone under the knife. The 22-year-old was expected to be out for several months, and on November 10, Mowbray said he felt Matete would be back training with his squad within the ‘next month or so’.
Influential skipper Evans ruptured his cruciate ligament in January in Sunderland’s home win against Middlesbrough, and the 33-year-old faces a lengthy lay-off. Evans has recently stepped up his recovery and has been out on the grass doing basic ball-work at the Academy of Light, with Mowbray saying on November 4 that the Northern Ireland international could be back in training by Christmas.
Mowbray said: “It will probably be Christmas time before he is back training with the group, and then the New Year before he is in contention, so he’s still a couple of months away.”
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