Tony Mowbray admits he feels for Niall Huggins after the defender missed out against Millwall after making such an impressive return from long-term injury before the World Cup break. Huggins made his comeback after 14 months on the sidelines in Sunderland's win at Birmingham City just before the break, playing out of position at left-back as the Black Cats dealt with a full-back crisis as at that stage they had Lynden Gooch, Aji Alese, and Dennis Cirkin out injured, while Luke O'Nien was suspended.
Former Leeds United man Huggins lasted the full 90 minutes at St Andrew's and Mowbray was full of praise for him, yet the 21-year-old did not even make the bench at the weekend when Sunderland's campaign resumed with a 3-0 win against Lions at the Stadium of Light. Afterwards, Mowbray explained there was no injury concern over Huggins and it was merely the fact that Gooch, Alese, Cirkin, and O'Nien were all available again - along with Trai Hume, who also played at Birmingham - which meant that someone had to miss out.
In the end, Mowbray brought Gooch in at right-back against Millwall, played Alese at left-back to make use of his height, while O'Nien played in central defence. Hume and Cirkin were on the bench, which left no place for Huggins.
