‘As bad as it could have been’, Sunderland boss Michael Beale’s verdict on Niall Huggins’ injury

Michael Beale said that Niall Huggins’s injury to his knee ligament is “as bad as it could have been,” adding that the defender won’t be able to kick a ball again until 2025. Huggins, who sustained an injury in Sunderland’s 3-0 home loss to Coventry City prior to Christmas—Beale’s first game in charge—underwent surgery this week.

‘Gutted’ by the severity of the injury, Beale said he was looking forward to working with the former Leeds United kid, who had been in outstanding form this season. “It’s probably as bad as it could have been, to be honest,” Beale remarked.

“It’s going to be 12-to … I don’t want to put another number on it. He’s going to be out for more than year.

“The surgery was good, he’s been back in [to the Academy of Light] and we’ve all seen him. He was a boy that when I watched the team, from the outside before I came in, I was really excited to work with.

Thus, it compounded the bad day that was Sunderland’s loss to Coventry City. I feel so bad for him.”

With injuries, the 23-year-old’s time at Wearside has been appalling since the summer of 2021. After suffering a heel issue and a back fracture, among other issues, he was only able to make eight appearances throughout his first two years with the team.

But he returned fully fit this term and made 20 appearances – 18 of them starts – in all competitions, and scored his first career goal, before this latest injury.