Sunderland in defensive crisis after update on injury to “talented” player

Unlikely to finish inside the play-offs and in managerial limbo, the bad news just

keeps coming for Sunderland in what is proving to be a miserable second-half to

their Championship season. Now, interim boss Mike Dodds must solve a defensive crisis after the latest injury

Sunderland injury news

In the midst of six straight losses, Sunderland could use some good fortune

in terms of injuries. However, that hasn’t happened, and Dodds’ problems have

only gotten worse due to the Black Cats injury list.

Finding defensive cover for the Queens Park Rangers game and the upcoming

weeks will be Dodds’ top priority due to his nine absences. Leo Hjelde is the only

center-back the Black Cats have available for this weekend’s matchup, so

the manager will either need to rely on inexperience or stretch the imagination.

Dodds can have a recurrence of the issue as a result of an injury update. Jenson

Seelt is expected to be sidelined for a “long period of time” following an injury

sustained during his last game against Southampton, as the defender verified on Instagram.

Sunderland fans at the Stadium of Light appear doomed to watch on as their

campaign finishes with a whimper rather than the playoff push that they

were on route for under Mowbray, with only nine games remaining and their

team nine points outside of the Championship’s top six.

Defensive options Dodds could turn to

The situation is exacerbated by the fact that Hjelde, who often plays left defense,

would suddenly have to partner with another inexperienced player at the

center of Sunderland’s defense. Dodds may also start Timothee Pembele, Trai

Hume, and 18-year-old Tom Lavery in what is undoubtedly a terrible situation

for a team trying to turn around their dismal performance.

Sunderland would struggle without Seelt in particular, considering the former

manager Mowbray’s prior assessment of the defender: “I thought Jenson was

good.” We’ve been thinking about getting him on the field, but given Ballard and O’Nien’s form, it’s challenging.

We expected he would come on and roll into midfield, like we do with Trai Hume

regularly, but in reality, he was going to come on and play. He can play holding

midfield. Because he is so skilled with the ball at his feet, Jenson is able to achieve that.”

With their injury woes, Sunderland doesn’t look likely to break out anytime

soon as they bide their time for the awful season to come to a conclusion

and the permanent appointment of a new manager. The Black Cats will be

hoping to be ready to go come summer transfer window opening and resume

their journey that Mowbray started them on.

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