Patterson Seelt and 5 more: The latest on every Sunderland injury concern after Preston North End draw.
Sunderland have been dealing with their fair share of injuries this season but they have managed to maintain their impressive form.
Sunderland kept their place at the top of the Championship table on Wednesday night despite only managing a goalless draw against Preston North End at Deepdale.
The gap to 2nd place – a spot now occupied by Sheffield United – is two points. The Blades beat Bristol City while Leeds United lost away to Millwall, meaning the dropped points didn’t harm the Black Cats all that much.
sunderland, Patterson, Seelt and 5 more: The latest on every Sunderland injury concern after Preston North End draw
Image courtesy of: LEE SMITH/REUTERS.
Regis Le Bris’ side will feel disappointed not to have got a result against a struggling Preston North End side but it extended their Championship unbeaten run to seven games nonetheless.
The fact Sunderland haven’t been helped by injuries in that run is a testament to the levels they’ve set this season, and it might not be long before things start to clear up in the treatment room on Wearside.
Sunderland injury latest.
Not all injury issues are going to clear up in the short-term, but Sunderland look set to welcome back some influential players sooner rather than later.
Dan Ballard was back in the matchday squad against Preston North End and while he was not used off the bench, his return marked a big positive. His injury struggles mean he faces a tough task displacing one of Luke O’Nien or Chris Mepham from the starting XI.
sunderland duo chris mepham and romaine mundle
Image courtesy of: PETER CZIBORRA/REUTERS.
Number one Anthony Patterson is close to his comeback too but the Preston game came too soon. The academy graduate has been out with a muscular problem.
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Aside from Ballard and Patterson though, it seems unlikely Sunderland will welcome anyone else back to the fray in the immediate future.
Aji Alese has been back in training but his return to action will be a steady one after being ruled out for three months at the end of August. Le Bris recently confirmed unseen summer signing Salis Abdul Samed will not be back until early December too.
Ahmed Abdullahi – another summer signing yet to make his debut – won’t return until late December based off his initial injury prognosis. Niall Huggins is out until 2024, and long-term absentee Jenson Seelt is still firmly on the comeback trail after an ACL injury.
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What next for the Black Cats?
After drawing with Preston North End, Sunderland will be out to return to winning ways against Coventry City this weekend. They’ll be back on home turf and will be favourites to beat a struggling Sky Blues side.
Mark Robins’ men looked to have turned a corner with back-to-back wins but they were poor in midweek as they fell to a 2-1 home defeat against Derby County – a side that were previously winless on the road in the Championship.
Le Bris will be hoping Ballard can play a role while Patterson will be pushing to reclaim his starting berth after narrowly missing out against Preston.
