Dennis Cirkin will be absent again this weekend against Stoke City as the Sunderland defender continues to feel the after-effects of the concussion he suffered a month ago. Cirkin was knocked out as he headed the Black Cats' equaliser at Millwall on February 4.
Sunderland followed the concussion protocols which meant Cirkin sat out the next two games before being cleared to resume playing, and he was eased back into action as a substitute in the win at QPR and the draw at home to Bristol City, and then returning to the starting line-up at Rotherham nine days ago. But he was not in the squad for last weekend's trip to Coventry City, with boss Tony Mowbray explaining afterwards that Cirkin was still not feeling 100 percent and had been sent for a scan.
Today Mowbray said that Cirkin would take part in some non-contact training but is not yet ready for full training, and that means he will not be involved when Alex Neil's Potters visit the Stadium of Light on Saturday. "With Dennis, it's probably still probably a bit up in the air with the concussion protocols," said Mowbray.
