For the “fantastic” Black Cats ace, this might be a serious setback.
An report from dependable writer James Hunter suggests that a “fantastic” Sunderland player may be sidelined for a while due to an injury.
Impressive Sunderland beat Birmingham
On Saturday afternoon, the Black Cats returned to Championship play at the Stadium of Light, where they faced Wayne Rooney’s Birmingham City. Tony Mowbray’s team has had a strong start to the season, and they proved it against their Midlands opponents, winning 3-1.
Sunderland’s opening goal from Jobe Bellingham put them ahead 3-0, and even though they were pushed back before halftime, Dion Sanderson’s own goal and Adil Aouchiche’s close-range effort meant that Mowbray’s team ultimately prevailed handily.
Due to West Brom’s 2-1 loss to Southampton away later in the day, Sunderland has sneaked into the playoff spots. The Black Cats are currently sixth in the standings and appear to be real contenders for promotion in 2023–2024.
Even though there are currently many reasons for optimism, one injury concern that may worry fans has surfaced following the weekend’s victory.
Dennis Cirkin injury blow
Following Sunderland’s victory over Birmingham on Saturday, Hunter revealed on X that Dennis Cirkin, the team’s star player, is “set for a scan” to determine the extent of the injury he sustained during the warm-up, which will prevent him from playing. Mowbray gave a similar update during his press conference following the game, saying:
“Ultimately, it was his hamstring. He trained yesterday and said he felt it after training, but then woke up this morning and said he felt fine, good. We pushed on and then in the warm-up he said he could feel it and didn’t want to risk it. He’ll go for a scan tomorrow and we’ll see what it is.”
It is hoped that Cirkin’s injury setback is not significant, but hamstring problems can be difficult to resolve; a minor strain may require several weeks to cure.
The 21-year-old has been a valuable squad member even if he hasn’t been a sure starter yet this season. Cirkin’s stats show that he has made eight appearances in the Championship while averaging 1.3 tackles per game and recording one assist.
He will be a crucial component of the Black Cats’ drive for promotion. Former Sunderland manager Lee Johnson has already praised the young lad as a “fantastic” talent who may have a “top career” ahead of him.
Any team hoping to compete in the Premier League needs to have a deep squad, and Cirkin is the kind of player who can be a huge asset in that regard. Although he doesn’t always start, Cirkin has shown himself to be a reliable defensive option, whether he plays center or left sided.
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