Sunderland: Dennis Cirkin, Dan Ballard & Romaine Mundle injury latest
REGIS LE BRIS expects to have Dennis Cirkin and Dan Ballard available before the end of the regular Championship season, and remains hopeful Romaine Mundle should be fit enough to feature in the play-offs.
Le Bris had hinted that Cirkin might be on the substitutes’ bench for yesterday’s game with Blackburn as he approaches the end of his recovery from a hamstring injury, but in the end, the full-back was absent as Sunderland slipped to a 1-0 defeat.
He is set to rejoin full training at the Academy of Light this week though, and should be part of the squad that travels to Oxford United for the Black Cats’ final away game of the regular season on Saturday.
Ballard is not expected to be part of the group that travels to the Kassam Stadium, but the centre-half continues to make good progress as he recovers from a hamstring issue of his own.
He will not play against Oxford, but he is set to be available for the final home game against QPR, which would enable him to put himself into contention for the first leg of Sunderland’s play-off semi-final, which is now guaranteed to take place away from home on Friday, May 9.
Le Bris remains hopeful Mundle could also be fit enough to feature in the first game of the play-offs, even though he is not expected to be available for either of the final two matches of the regular season.
“For Romaine, I think the time will be too short for these next two games,” said Le Bris. “We don’t think he will be ready for those games, but when it comes to the play-offs, we don’t think he will be too far from the team.
“We will probably have Dennis next week, and then we should have Ballard after the Oxford game. Hopefully, he will be available for the last game (against QPR).”
