Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray is facing several challenges in selecting his squad for the upcoming game against Stoke City. Despite optimism that his senior players would be in better shape for their return to Championship football, Mowbray remains uncertain about their availability.
Dan Neil will miss the game due to a one-match suspension, and Dan Ballard’s participation is in doubt due to a minor muscle injury he sustained while on international duty with Northern Ireland. Although Pierre Ekwah, Alex Pritchard, and Bradley Dack have resumed training during the international break, Mowbray is unsure if they’ll be ready to make their comeback in the Stoke match.
Complicating matters further is the delayed return of some Sunderland players from international duty, with their arrival not expected until Friday. This raises doubts about their fitness to participate in the upcoming game. Mowbray emphasized the importance of training over the next couple of days, as players who can’t fully train by a certain point won’t be included in the lineup.
Mowbray expressed frustration about not being able to train with all his players due to their international commitments, and he acknowledged the fatigue of those who played multiple games during the past week. However, he also recognized that this is a common challenge for managers with international players and is determined to work with the available options to assemble the team for the upcoming match.
On a positive note, there is hope that Niall Huggins, who left the Middlesbrough match with an injury, could still be fit to play against Stoke, with no significant setbacks reported after a scan. If he participates in full training on Friday, there is a chance he will be available for the match.