Tony Mowbray praised the bravery of Dennis Cirkin for putting his head in where it hurts to score Sunderland's equaliser at Millwall. The defender headed the Black Cats back on level terms ten minutes from time at The Den, securing a point in a 1-1 draw.
But he took a fist in the face from Millwall keeper George Long for his troubles, with Mowbray revealing that Cirkin was knocked unconscious for a spell and was substituted with concussion, meaning he must now sit out Wednesday's FA Cup fourth round replay against Fulham at the Stadium of Light as part of the protocols that govern head injuries in football.
Depending on how he recovers over the next week, he could be available in time for Sunderland's home game in the Championship against Reading next Saturday.
READ MORE: Sunderland's Dan Neil and Patrick Roberts stand out in draw at Millwall
"Dennis is concussed," said Mowbray. "He was out cold on the pitch for a while. He's now awake, he's not necessarily sure whether he scored or not - we told him he has! Dennis is a brave lad, it's not the first time he has scored a headed goal for us in a tight, congested, six-yard box this season.
"Dennis will have some sort of concussion stuff to deal with now. He'll obviously miss Wednesday's cup replay against Fulham - I'm not sure exactly how many days he will be out, it depends on certain tests and what the doc says, but he might be alright for next weekend, we'll wait and see."
Cirkin was making his return from a hip injury and had been on the pitch for only around 15 minutes when he suffered the concussion. Alex Pritchard also made his comeback in the game as substitute, and it was his free-kick that Cirkin headed in to cancel out Jake Cooper's opener which had come on the hour.
Mowbray said: "Dennis had been out for a while - the same as Alex Pritchard - they had been out for four or five weeks. They both contributed to the equaliser, so I'm pleased for them."
The Den was full to capacity and there was an intimidating atmosphere, so Mowbray was pleased with the way his young side dealt with the situation - albeit he admitted they were unable to play the kind of attacking football that has become their trademark this season. He said: "We weren't allowed, for long spells in that game, to play the way we like to play, and that's huge credit to Millwall and their intensity and the environment created from the terraces.
"It's a unique place to play football and it is very difficult to play the way we wanted to play. We didn't lose the match.
"I've spoken before about how young this team is, and we have lost Corry Evans who gives us experience in midfield, we've lost Ross Stewart our main goalscorer, so it was an extaordinarily young team out there today and I thought they stood up to the environment and the intensity of the opposition. I've been to Millwall a lot over the last few years and I have never seen it full.
"It's always a fantastic atmosphere that the fans create, but it was a full stadium today and I think our team deserves credit for not succumbing to the pressure of that game. There must have been so many stoppages, in the first half particularly, it seemed like every five seconds or so there was a foul.
"We're a bit frustrated that we couldn't get our game going but we have to respect the opposition and how they play and what they do, and they ask lots of questions of you."
READ NEXT:
- Sunderland's Dennis Cirkin salvages a point at Millwall in a brief comeback from injury
- Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray gives update on Ross Stewart's injury and when he might resume training
- Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray sets out next step for new signings Joe Anderson and Isaac Lihadji
- Tony Mowbray admits his 'disappointment' as Sunderland miss out on deadline day striker targets
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