Ballard, Cirkin & O’Nien: early Sunderland injury news and expected return dates ahead of Crystal Palace clash
The latest Sunderland injury news - with updates on Dan Ballard, Dennis Cirkin, Luke O’Nien and more.
Sunderland’s record-breaking spending during the summer transfer window may have left manager Régis Le Bris with a substantial squad, but he still has to deal with a number of injury headaches as he prepares for the Black Cats’ forthcoming trip to Crystal Palace.
Dan Ballard, Dan Cirkin, Luke O’Nien and Romaine Mundle are among the players who could be absent when Sunderland travel down to the capital looking to build on a highly promising start to the Premier League season.
We’ve got the latest news on all of Sunderland’s stricken players along with their expected return dates below, as well as information on which of the club’s many late signings could miss out due to a lack of match fitness.
How long is Dan Ballard out for?
A hero both of the opening day victory over West Ham United and Sunderland’s successful play-off run last season, Ballard was forced from the field in the early stages of his side’s 2-0 defeat to Burnley and was not available for selection against Brentford last weekend.
Ballard has sustained a groin injury but the damage isn’t believed to be severe. After the disappointing midweek EFL Cup defeat to Huddersfield Town, Le Bris told the press that he expected Ballard to be absent for “two to three weeks”, suggesting a grade one tear of the muscle and nothing more serious.
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That does, however, mean that the 25-year-old is a doubt for the game against Crystal Palace. Ballard was not selected for Northern Ireland’s squad to face Luxembourg and Germany and he has not yet been pictured back in training over the international break. Should he miss out against Palace, he should be back in time for the following weekend’s fixture against Aston Villa at the Stadium of Light.
Dennis Cirkin & Luke O’Nien among doubts for Crystal Palace match
Left-back Cirkin and utility player O’Nien are two more players whose status for next weekend remains in doubt. Neither player has been able to play a part in Sunderland’s opening matches in the Premier League, but they should be closing in on returns in the very near future.
O’Nien, who signed a new contract with the club in August, is recovering from a shoulder injury which he sustained during Sunderland’s dramatic play-off final win over Sheffield United at Wembley. The injury required surgery, but he had been slated for a September return and could play some part against Crystal Palace.
Cirkin, meanwhile, is recovering from a wrist injury which sidelined him for a significant portion of Sunderland’s promotion season – he, too, was expected to miss the first month of the new campaign and could be close to a return. Le Bris has yet to tell the press whether the pair are on track or not, but there is at least some chance that both are involved next weekend.
Romaine Mundle remains out as new signings face fitness battles
Sunderland’s only long-term absentee as it stands is midfielder Romaine Mundle, who is expected to be out of action until mid-October with a hamstring injury. The home game against Wolverhampton Wanderers which follows the next international break is the earliest match in which the 22-year-old is likely to be involved.
Two more players who are inching towards returns are defenders Aji Alese (shoulder) and Leo Hjeldie (Achilles). As with Cirkin and O’Nien, the club has stated that they expect them to be available for selection shortly after the current international break and they could be available for selection if required.
Three of Sunderland’s late signings may need time to build up full match fitness following their transfers – full-back Arthur Masuaku, striker Brian Brobbey and winger Bertrand Traoré. Masuaku and Brobbey have not played a match since last season, while deadline day addition Traoré managed just one hour for Ajax before his transfer. Chris Rigg, who was fit enough for the bench against Brentford, could be ready to face his first minutes as a Premier League footballer.