https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/s...ns-admits-major-challenges-sunderland-career/ By Scott Wilson DECEMBER 2023, and Niall Huggins was finally feeling like his career was taking off. Signed by Sunderland from Leeds United in the summer of 2021, the defender had shown promise in his first two seasons on Wearside, but a series of injury issues, the most serious of which meant he only made one league start in the whole of the 2022-23 campaign, had hampered his development. By the first half of the 2023-24 season though, under first Tony Mowbray and then Michael Beale, things were different. He was finally fit, and through the autumn and winter, he started 17 of Sunderland’s 18 league games, by far the most active spell of his senior career. He was playing well, there was even talk of a maiden international cap with Wales, but then on December 23, in a home defeat to Coventry City, his world fell apart. The moment he fell to the ground, clutching his knee, he knew things were bad. Just how bad would become clear over the course of the next year-and-a-half, when Huggins was forced to undergo an excruciating period of recovery from knee surgery. “It’s really underestimated how tough it is mentally,” said Huggins, who is finally back fit and was part of the Sunderland side that kicked off pre-season with a 4-0 win at South Shields on Saturday. “I had a good run of games, I thought I was going to take off from there, then it happens from nowhere and it's out of your control. “It's been a tough road back, I've had so many ups and downs. I'm just appreciative to be back on the pitch and to be able to play football again. That's what I love to do.” In Huggins’ absence, Sunderland became a club transformed. Regis Le Bris arrived as head coach, the playing squad underwent a radical overhaul, and in May, the Black Catswon the Championship play-off final to secure a return to the Premier League. Watching on from the sidelines, Huggins was delighted. But with every success achieved by his team-mates, there was a nagging and understandable frustration that he was not really part of it. “It’s hard trying to feel part of the squad,” said the York-born 24-year-old. “When you're out, you try and do as much as you can to be part of it, but sometimes it just feels impossible. “When you’re fit, there's no better feeling than winning games with your team-mates. It’s tough to get to the same level as everyone else when you don't feel like you've impacted that. That's the thing I’ve found tough, and I've worked with a lot of people on the mental side, just to try and help cope with it. “Everyone around the club has been amazing, the lads have been amazing and I still enjoyed coming in every day. But it is a tough mental battle. It's the ups and downs, it's a roller-coaster, the highs and lows. But I've built up a lot of resilience. When you're out for a long time, you build a lot of resilience. “Hopefully, I take that through life. Different challenges will come, but I know I've had some really tough times and I've got through them and come out the other end stronger.” As a club, Sunderland never forgot Huggins’ capabilities. Last October, when he was still months away from being able to play competitively, he was offered a new contract, which he signed, tying him down until the summer of 2026, with an option of a further 12 months. While Le Bris arrived long after Huggins suffered his injury, he was keen to ensure the defender, who can play at either full-back or centre-half, still felt part of things. That support was appreciated, and means Huggins is desperate to do everything he can to repay the faith of those around him. “I’ve always felt with Regis and Pedro (Ribeiro) that they've backed me,” he said. “They weren't here when I was playing, but it's always felt like they knew what I could do and what type of player I am. “He's (Le Bris) always come in and checked on me throughout the injury. For a manager, it must be hard to have that balance, but as a player, it's all you can ask for. He's done that all the way throughout and I'm massively appreciative of that. Now I get the chance to show what I can do.” Saturday’s friendly was just a starting point for all involved but, understandably, it held more emotional significance for Huggins than any of his team-mates. With 45 minutes at right-back under his belt, he will head off to Sunderland’s Portuguese training camp this week in a buoyant mood. “I think things will build more and more through pre-season,” he said. “I just came in (to the South Shields game) looking to enjoy myself. Before the game, I was putting too much pressure on, but speaking to my family and girlfriend, they just told me to enjoy myself. “It’s what I love to do, and I haven't done it for a long time. This was just about enjoying myself, but as pre-season goes on, it will build to get back to where I was and where I want to be.”
Seems such a likeable lad, plus he has got ability Really hoping he stays injury free this season and shows is what he is capable off Him staying fit will save us about £10 million in a replacement imo
He’s very highly rated, and his last injury was pure bad luck. Not really down to being injury prone. I hope both he and Alese get over their injury concerns for us.
The next few months are absolutely huge for him in terms of his full career. I really hope he comes through
