Sunderland: Journalist hints at major injury issues facing Tony Mowbray

Joe Nicholson believes that Sunderland could be without up to six first-team players for tonight’s Championship clash.

Sunderland will be looking to make it back-to-back league victories after their dramatic win on Boxing Day at the Stadium of Light, but it certainly won’t be straightforward.

This is because the Black Cats could well be without some influential first-team players heading into their match against Wigan Athletic, including the likes of Lynden Gooch, Dennis Cirkin and Alex Pritchard, which could leave Tony Mowbray with a selection headache.

Nicholson has spoken about Sunderland’s potential absentees on the latest episode of The Roar podcast.

He said: “It looks like Gooch, Cirkin, Alese, Danny Batth are all big doubts for the two games against Wigan and Blackpool, Alex Pritchard as well and obviously Elliot Embleton is out with a long-term injury.”

TIF Thoughts on Sunderland’s woes…

Despite Wigan being on a horrid run of form which has seen them win just once in their last 11 matches, Sunderland will be wary of facing them at home with a raft of potential injuries to contend with, which could force Mowbray into a change of system.

Mowbray will indeed be ruing his luck when it comes to injuries this season with several potentially missing, while star players such as Ross Stewart and Ellis Simms have spent significant time on the sidelines.

This shocking run of injuries Sunderland have experienced this season could well force the club to move in the January transfer window to ensure they have enough strength in depth to finish the season off in style and not drop down the league drastically.