Current Sunderland injury updates prior to their match against Coventry City.
Prior to Michael Beale’s first game as head coach this weekend against Coventry City at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland’s injury concerns are still getting better. Although it seems unlikely that they will be thrust back into first-team action before Christmas, long-term injuries Jay Matete, Aji Alese, and Timothee Pembele all made their comebacks for the U21s this week, and that first competitive game is still a significant accomplishment.
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.
Beale took over as the Black Cats’ new manager on Monday. He will try to start off well against Mark Robins’ Sky Blues, who are currently six points behind the Wearsiders in 15th place in the standings. 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.
READ MORE: To keep Sunderland “on the up,” new manager Michael Beale needs to win over supporters and demonstrate his abilities Jay Matete
In Sunderland’s preseason match against North Carolina, midfielder Matete suffered damage to his knee cartilage. He has since undergone surgery. After returning to training, Matete participated in Monday night’s U21 match at Eppleton versus Arsenal for his first 45 minutes of competitive play this season. He is still catching up, so it is unlikely that he will be included in the Coventry squad.
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Timothee Pembele
Timothée Pembele of Paris-Saint-Germain challenges Timothy Weah of Lille.
The final day of Paris Saint-Germain signing Pembele has not yet made his debut and is still dealing with the aftereffects of a chronic knee ailment. But he’s back in the gym and made it through 45 minutes of Monday night’s Sunderland U21s game against Arsenal at Eppleton. Once more, he is still recovering to full fitness, so it is unlikely that he will be included in the team to play Coventry.
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Alese Aji
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 played his first competitive minutes of the season in the second half of Sunderland U21s’ match against Arsenal on Monday night. It will take him some time to reach peak fitness, so he won’t be in the starting lineup against Coventry.
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Dennis Cirkin
Dennis Cirkin of Sunderland cheers on the away supporters during the end of the West Brom game.
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.
