Latest Sunderland injury news ahead of this weekend’s home game against Coventry City

Before Sunderland’s match at the Stadium of Light this weekend against Coventry City, their injury problems are still getting better. Although they won’t likely be thrust back into first team action before Christmas, long-term injuries Jay Matete and Timothee Pembele—the latter of whom hasn’t played since signing over the summer—are scheduled to return for the U21s this week. It will be a significant milestone for them to play in a competitive match.

When Sunderland hosts Mark Robins’ Sky Blues on Saturday, they should have a new head coach in place. Michael Beale, a former Glasgow Rangers manager, is the front-runner to take over. Under interim head coach Mike Dodds, Sunderland lost 1-0 against Bristol City last weekend, dropping them out of the play-off spots.

In the past, Dodds had managed consecutive home victories over play-off opponents West Bromwich Albion and Leeds United, who were surefire candidates for promotion. Before every match, Sunderland provides an injury update, and ChronicleLive has compiled the most recent details we currently know about the players who are in the Academy of Light’s treatment room.

In Sunderland’s preseason match against North Carolina, midfielder Matete suffered a damage to his knee cartilage. He has since undergone surgery. Matete is back in training and should play for the U21s tonight against Arsenal at Eppleton, according to Dodds, who made this announcement on December 14.

Final day of Paris Saint-Germain signing Having only participated in a few games during the previous season following his recovery from a long-term ailment, Pembele lacks fitness. Pembele was making good healing progress when he had a setback in October.

Pembele, like Matete, was back in training, according to Dodds on December 14. He is expected to play for the U21s against Arsenal.

Alese, a defender, suffered a thigh injury during Sunderland’s April home loss to Stoke City. The 22-year-old was expected to make a quick comeback in the second leg of the Black Cats’ play-off semi-final against Luton Town, coming off the bench for the last 30 minutes at Kenilworth Road. However, during that game, the injury returned.

Alese, like Cirkin, has returned to training and will need to be gradually reintroduced into first-team action, according to Dodds’ statement from December 14. As a result, it seems unlikely that Alese will be ready for this weekend’s match against Coventry City.

Important captain Evans, 33, will require a protracted layoff after rupturing his cruciate ligament during Sunderland’s home victory against Middlesbrough in January. Evans has accelerated his recuperation lately, and he has been practicing fundamental ball skills outdoors at the Academy of Light. However, it will take until the New Year for him to be prepared to return to full training.

With his expected start against Birmingham, Cirkin would have made his first appearance in the starting lineup since sustaining a hamstring injury in early September. However, the injury was detected by the defense during the warm-up, and he left the game just before kickoff.

On December 14, Dodds stated that although Cirkin is back fully trained, he will need to be gradually reintroduced to first team action and is not anticipated to be fit for this weekend’s match against Coventry City.