Sunderland has encountered fresh injury setbacks as they prepare to face Norwich City this upcoming weekend. After their defeat to Leicester City, Tony Mowbray confirmed that Adil Aouchiche and Bradley Dack were both absent due to injuries. Sunderland narrowly lost to Leicester City in the Championship match, with an early goal by James Justin making the difference between the two teams. The visitors had numerous opportunities to level the score, and there were arguments for a penalty due to a foul on Dan Neil in the first half, although it was not awarded.
In usual circumstances, Mowbray would have turned to Aouchiche and Dack to aid their goal-scoring efforts, but both were missing from the match-day squad. Aouchiche had been vying for a spot in the starting lineup after several impressive cameo appearances since his arrival, while Dack had recently returned from a thigh injury that had sidelined him since the 5-0 victory over Southampton.
Mowbray stated after the loss that, “Adil is injured with a groin problem, and Bradley was out with a hamstring injury. They didn’t travel with us. We didn’t expect Dan Ballard to play as he hadn’t trained, but he passed a fitness test on the afternoon of the game.”
Both midfielders now face the possibility of missing the crucial weekend match against Norwich City, which is a must-win game following three consecutive defeats.
Will the absence of Aouchiche and Dack be felt?
Losing Adil Aouchiche is a significant blow, as the young Frenchman has greatly impressed since his arrival from Lorient. The 21-year-old appeared poised to receive a starting opportunity, particularly given the number of midweek fixtures in the upcoming winter period. Hopefully, his absence won’t be prolonged, as I believe he could make a substantial impact toward the end of the year.
Meanwhile, Bradley Dack continues to grapple with his injury-prone status. It’s doubtful that the 29-year-old has been truly fit this season, in part because Tony Mowbray pushed him into action without a proper pre-season. It feels like we haven’t seen the best of Dack, especially not in his natural position. However, Mowbray continues to favor him and insert him into the lineup, even when he might not be fully ready or needed.