NIALL HUGGINS should be available to start Sunderland’s weekend game at Stoke City, but Dan Ballard is a doubt after picking up an injury while on international duty with Northern Ireland.
And with Pierre Ekwah, Bradley Dack and Alex Pritchard at varying stages of their respective recoveries, Tony Mowbray will be leaving his team selection for the trip to the bet365 Stadium to the last possible moment.
Huggins suffered an injury during the first half of the defeat to Middlesbrough that preceded the international break, but a scan did not reveal any significant damageAs a result, the defender has been able to ease himself back into the training in the last few days and should be available to line up at left-back at the weekend.
“Niall is okay,” said Mowbray, whose side remain in the Championship play-off places despite their loss in the Wear-Tees derby. “We would be hopeful he’s got a chance. He had a scan and there was an injury, but he’s been easing himself back into training. If he trains fully on Friday, he’s got a chance.”
The rest of the selection picture is much more mixed. Dan Neil is definitely out as he serves the one-match suspension that was imposed in the wake of his dismissal against Middlesbrough.Ballard suffered a thigh injury while on international duty with Northern Ireland and was forced to miss Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat to Slovenia. He has been assessed by Sunderland’s medical staff in the next 48 hours, and has a chance of being involved against Stoke.
Ekwah, Dack and Pritchard were all suffering from injuries prior to the start of the international break, and while they have continued to progress in the last fortnight, Mowbray admits it is touch and go whether any of the three will be able to feature against the Potters.
“Alex, Pierre and Bradley (have had injuries), and it seems Dan Ballard picked up an injury with Northern Ireland,” confirmed Mowbray. “If they don’t train (on Friday), they won’t be playing and they know that.
“Training today and tomorrow will be key. There’s training with the physios, and then there’s training fully with the team. Those players that have been mentioned (Ekwah, Dack and Pritchard) have been doing a little bit of both. So, we’ll see on Friday, but we won’t put pressure on players.
“We have to prepare the team. The sad thing for me is that we haven’t even had some of the players back yet from international duty. They won’t be back until (Friday) and, in my mind, they won’t be able to start. How can you prepare your team when you can’t train with them?”
Dennis Cirkin and Aji Alese continue on their respective rehabilitation programmes, but both remain at least a few weeks away from a potential first-team return.
