Exclusive:Sunderland with sad news before January break

Sunderland return to action against Rotherham United on Friday night as they look to end 2023 on a high and cement their place in the Championship top six.

here’s the latest team and injury news ahead of that game, and the looming visits of Preston North End and Newcastle United…

Michael Beale said after the game at Hull City that Sunderland were still waiting on news of Huggins’ scan, after the full back was stretchered off in the 3-0 defeat to Coventry City. An update is therefore expected imminently

Beale has made clear that he is expecting bad news, with the 23-year-old expected to be absent for a significant period. It is a huge blow for player and club, given how we well had had fought back from his injury issues and how well he was playing this season. Timothée Pembélé did make his first appearance in the matchday squad at Hull, and so should make his debut at some stage over the next fortnight.

Dack suffered a hamstring injury in the first half of the 1-0 win over Hull City and though he was able to watch the second half from the dugout, he will go for a scan and was in obvious discomfort. It makes him a major doubt for the next two Championship fixtures, and also for the upcoming visit of Newcastle United in the FA Cup

Alese made a major step forward in his recovery by playing 45 minutes in a recent U21 fixture against Arsenal at Eppleton. He has of course played little football this year, and so Sunderland have to be integrate him carefully. Beale opted to go with Nectar Triantis as his substitute central defender at Hull, suggesting that Alese has a little way to go before being considered ready to return to the squad. Part of the challenge at the moment is very obviously that the team has very little training time with the match schedule as it is. It shouldn’t be long, though, before Alese returns and what a boost that will be.