Niall Huggins' 'brutal' struggle with injuries has wrecked his first two seasons at Sunderland - but Tony Mowbray believes this summer will be pivotal for the defender. Huggins joined the Black Cats from Leeds United in the summer of 2021 but has been restricted to just half-a-dozen first-team outings, with his catalogue of injuries including a stress fracture of the back, a heel problem, and an ankle issue.
He completed 90 minutes in Sunderland's win at Birmingham in November in what was his first outing for more than a year, but since then he has managed just 45 minutes in the FA Cup draw at Fulham at the end of January. The 22-year-old has been back in training recently and played for the U21s last month at Leeds, and was due to play for the U21s against Nottingham Forest on Monday night but was withdrawn from the starting line-up shortly before kick-off as a precaution due to a minor hamstring issue.
Mowbray says the hamstring problem is not serious and Huggins could return to training as soon as tomorrow, but in the bigger picture he wants to avoid putting pressure on the full-back to rush back after such a long absence, insisting that he really needs a proper pre-season behind him. "I think when you've had a few major injury concerns, it's difficult coming back from them," said Mowbray.
