Latest Sunderland injury news ahead of their New Year's Day clash with Preston North End
All the latest updates on Sunderland's injured players ahead of their game against Preston North End at the Stadium of Light
by James Hunter · ChronicleLiveSunderland kick off 2024 at home to Preston North End and with new boss Michael Beale counting the cost of the gruelling festive period. The Black Cats have picked up a fresh injury in each of Beale's three games in charge so far, starting with defender Niall Huggins' season-ending knee injury in last weekend's defeat against Coventry City and then with midfielder Bradley Dack limping out of the Boxing Day win at Hull City.
The bad luck continued on Friday night when winger Patrick Roberts was forced off early in the draw against basement side Rotherham United at the New York Stadium. There was some good news for Beale against the Millers as French full-back Timothee Pembele made his long-awaited debut after recovering from the long-term injury that had affected him since he arrived in the summer, while defender Aji Alese was named on the bench for the first time this season after recovering from the thigh injury that has kept him out since May, and Dennis Cirkin is also nearing a return.
The point at Rotherham saw Sunderland drop out of the play-off places but they will move back into the top six if they beat Preston, although they will also need Hull to drop points later in the tea-time kick-off if they are to remain there come the end of the day. Sunderland give an injury update ahead of every game and here ChronicleLive has pulled together the latest information we have on the players who are currently in the treatment room at the Academy of Light.
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Patrick Roberts
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Bradley Dack
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Niall Huggins
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