Prior to the end of current season and their impending play-off campaign, Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris will finally be able to welcome back Dennis Cirkin and Dan Ballard, two crucial defensive players.
The Black Cats will now hope that the significant boost of having both Ballard and Cirkin return at the right time could be what makes the difference for them in the play-offs after some poor form that has left them looking like they are coasting towards the end of the campaign with little to play for for the majority of the last month.
Ballard’s hamstring injury has kept him out of action for the Wearsiders since mid-February, and Cirkin’s injury against Coventry City in mid-March has kept him out as well.
Cirkin is expected to play this weekend against Oxford since he is improving.
Ballard is anticipated to return in time for United’s last regular season match against Queens Park Rangers at the Stadium of Light, while United just missed out on being in the squad against Blackburn Rovers on Monday.
The major Ballard and Cirkin boost
Ballard, a previous loanee from Swindon Town, Blackpool, and Millwall, has established himself as the pivot of the Sunderland defense after coming from Arsenal in the summer of 2022 for an unknown cost.
| Sunderland’s defensive options | |
|---|---|
| Player | Preferred position |
| Aji Alese | Centre-back |
| Joe Anderson | Centre-back |
| Dan Ballard | Centre-back |
| Chris Mepham | Centre-back |
| Luke O’Nien | Centre-back |
| Jenson Seelt | Centre-back |
| Dennis Cirkin | Full-back |
| Leo Hjelde | Full-back |
| Niall Huggins | Full-back |
| Trai Hume | Full-back |
A important player as Sunderland looks to make their first return to the Premier League since their relegation in the 2016–17 season, the 25-year-old Northern Ireland international, who was born in Stevenage, had his greatest season with the club last year with 42 Championship games.
Before moving to the northeast for an unknown fee in August 2021, when Sunderland was still in League One, Cirkin progressed through the Tottenham Hotspur youth.
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