Sunderland maintained their excellent Championship record with a 2-0 win over Watford on Wednesday night and will be seeking to maintain their momentum when Middlesbrough visits on Saturday lunchtime in front of what may be a sold-out crowd.
Sunderland’s injury list remains rather large, but with late-summer additions beginning to settle in, Tony Mowbray’s choices are expanding.
So, what’s the latest on injuries, who could be back on Saturday, and who is set to be out for a while?
ALEX PRITCHARD
Pritchard missed the victory over Watford due to a minor calf issue, and Mowbray said no decision had been made on whether he will play against Middlesbrough on Saturday. A scan revealed that the damage was minor, but pushing the attacking midfielder could result in additional damage. Abdoullah Ba’s outstanding performance on Wednesday night may persuade Mowbray to give Pritchard the upcoming international break to fully recover. Stoke City (A) on October 21st as a possible return date Photographer: Frank Reid
PIERRE EKWAH
Ekwah experienced a dead leg throughout the buildup to QPR’s win, which was aggravated when he took a knock in the same area during the game’s opening minutes. As a result, the midfielder has been healing from a hematoma, which has practically prevented him from moving as freely as he needs to in order to play at his best. Sunderland had hoped that Ekwah would have returned by now, but that has plainly not occurred, and Mowbray admitted on Tuesday that Ekwah will also miss Middlesbrough’s visit. He should be able to resume full training during the international break with no problems. Stoke City (A) on October 21st as a possible return date
Pnefc Safc Dack
Dack has a slight hamstring injury, but Mowbray says the club is resolved not to take any chances, well aware of the possibilities of a recurrence that might keep him out for much longer. As a result, the head coach stated on Tuesday that Dack will not play against Middlesbrough this weekend, instead focusing on the Stoke City trip. Sunderland’s normal depth in this position has been reduced due to Alex Pritchard’s injury, but Roberts performed admirably on Wednesday, while Adil Aouchiche was once again brilliant from the bench. Stoke City (A) on October 21st as a possible return date Photographer: FRANK REID
DENNIS CIRKIN
Cirkin injured his hamstring during the last international break, and while there is no specific comeback date, Mowbray said he expects him to miss a few weeks and that he is not back in training at this time. At this point, a comeback before the international break is quite doubtful, especially given that Niall Huggins has settled into the role nicely and is improving by the game. This is likely to persuade Sunderland to give Cirkin a fortnight to come up to speed. Stoke City (A) on October 21st is a possible return date.
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