https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/s...gins-overcoming-injury-challenges-sunderland/ (long article warning!) By Scott Wilson A FOOTBALL club can be a lonely place to be when you’re on the fringe of things. Last season, Sunderland’s youngsters were showered with praise as they battled their way into the play-offs, but for Niall Huggins, a 22-year-old defender who should have been part of the Black Cats’ crop of youthful talent, the warm words felt hollow. For all that Tony Mowbray’s side were sweeping all before them, Huggins was not involved. Signed from Leeds United in the summer of 2021, York-born Huggins freely admits he has had a nightmare two years. In the space of two seasons, he made just seven first-team appearances, only two of which were league starts… For a while, even Sunderland’s medical staff were struggling to get on top of the issues, but when Huggins reported for pre-season training early this summer, he finally did so with a clean bill of health. Three months on, and with an injury to Dennis Cirkin having created an opening at left-back, he finds himself in the Black Cats’ starting side, making three league appearances in a row for the first time in his career. The last 24 months have been challenging, but crucially, he has emerged unscathed. “It was such a tough time,” admitted Huggins. “It was just weird injuries that aren’t very common. We struggled to find actual answers as to why it was happening, so it was tough mentally. My family and friends were really important, and then your team-mates sticking by you too. “It’s tough to be in the building sometimes when you’re not part of the wins. It’s quite a conflicting feeling, but you’ve just got to knuckle down through it because there’s always light at the end of the tunnel. After a long time, it feels like I’ve been waiting for this moment I’m at now. Hopefully, I can get a good run of games and show what I can do.” Huggins’ run of action actually began at the end of last season, with substitute appearances in both legs of Sunderland’s play-off semi-final defeat to Luton. Mowbray’s willingness to play him in such high-pressure occasions was a major boost, but was necessarily a surprise given that the Sunderland boss had previously tried to sign Huggins when when he was in charge at Blackburn Rovers. The pair actually met at Ewood Park to discuss a possible move from Leeds, and held another set of talks at the start of the summer where Mowbray assured Huggins he was still an important part of his plans despite being sidelines for much of last season. That provided the youngster with a timely boost, and helped persuade him to report early for pre-season in an attempt to ensure he hit the ground running once the main summer programme began. “I had a chat with the gaffer at the end of last season,” said Huggins. “I was involved in the two play-off games at the end of the season, and he said he wanted me in the building this year to challenge to get into the team. “That was nice to hear. It just gave me that extra burst over the off-season. I had a couple of weeks off, just to reset, and then I think I was in a week or so before the team came back in, and I think it was good for me just to get that first week of running out of the way. “When I got back into pre-season with the team, I already had that first bit of nagging pain in the legs gone. I think it really helped me coming in early, and then I trained really hard right through pre-season to try to get to where I am now, and I think it’s paying off.” Again, though, Huggins initially had to bide his time at the start of the current campaign. He did not start any of the opening five league matches, but got his chance when Cirkin suffered a hamstring injury earlier this month. He was promoted to the starting line-up for the win at QPR, playing at left-back, which he regards as his ‘natural’ position for all that he has appeared in a variety of different roles for Sunderland, and retained his spot for the subsequent matches against Blackburn and Cardiff. “It’s unfortunate for Dennis,” he said. “You don’t want to see any of your team-mates go down, but I’ve just had to make sure that I was ready. There were a few parts of last season where we were low on full-backs, but I just had an unfortunate run where when people were out, it could have been my chance, but I just fell short with the injuries. “It feels really good to be in the position I’m in now. I feel the best I’ve felt in two years. I feel back to how I felt in myself when I first joined the club.” Playing at left-back, he is beginning to strike up a relationship with Jack Clarke, with his athleticism and energy adding a valuable string to Sunderland’s attacking bow. “I back myself to do a bit of running,” he said. “It’s probably the fittest I’ve felt in the last two years. I can either give it to Jack and he can work his magic and do what he does, or if I’m running around him, it either creates some space for him or he can use me if I’m there. “It’s been good. We’ve not played a lot of football together over the last two years, so it’s good to learn on the pitch, and I think it’ll just get better as we go on.”
Interesting he sees his main position as a LB - with Clarke being right footed, I'd rather we had a left footed full back who can overlap Still, it's great to see the kid fit again and he can definitely be an asset for us with his pace and tackling ability
Yep,I'm pleased for him. He's a good player....played well on Sunday. Left back was a position I was concerned about during pre- season,but,with Niall showing such good form and Dennis and Aji to come back...needn't have worried.
Yeah I thought that was interesting too, I don't think you'd find many right footers who prefer to play LB over RB. He's an interesting player in general I thought his attacking play was very promising and I've no issues with his ability to defend. One to watch for sure. Saw someone say he used to play upfront, he did look at home around the box. I'd like Clarke to play him in more in the next game, seemed to use him exclusively as a decoy runner against Cardiff.
Thought he was very good Sunday, and decent games before. Hope he keeps injury free and earns a new deal, he looks like a good player to me.
Great to see the lad fit, playing well and enjoying his football. Much more to offer us in a number of positions if he can stay fit.
With all the controversy surrounding the match and sending off I have not seen anything about the extent of Niall ‘s injury , looked like a strain that could keep him out for a while which would be a shame as he is just settling in after so many injuries . Anyone heard / seen anything.
Watch the full 90 about 28th minute. He was holding his left upper thigh. Looks like a muscle strain. He walked off so maybe is not too bad.
It was strange RTB, he changed his boots just before he was injured. I wonder if he changed to longer studs and that caused the injury/strain when he turned. It was just in front of where I sit and it looked like he was holding either his thigh or groin when he was getting treatment.
Well remembered, thought at the time it was strange to have picked the wrong boots. If the ground was heavy going, he's going to struggle until April
