Sunderland manager Lee Johnson must deal with a double injury blow ahead of their League One fixture at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
What’s the latest?
In recent comments cited by The Northern Echo, Johnson revealed that both Corry Evans and Ollie Younger are set to miss the Black Cats’ clash with AFC Wimbledon this weekend. The Northern Ireland international is expected to return to action next week after suffering a muscle injury in the win over MK Dons last Saturday, while the centre-back will be rested for three or four days due to a hamstring injury.
The 40-year-old gave this injury update ahead of today’s clash: “We’re in a good space physically. There’s only Corry Evans. Ollie Younger picked up a little knock or a little feeling in his hamstring.
“It’s not a tear, it’s just a little pinch point so he will be rested over the next three or four days. Obviously, you know Denver [Hume’s] situation as he returns back to full fitness. I think, apart from that, everybody is good.”
Johnson will be gutted
While Evans only joined Sunderland in July, it is evident that the central midfielder is already a very important player within Johnson’s side. The Mackems boss made the 31-year-old the club captain soon after his arrival, as well as starting the £360k-rated man in the club’s opening two games of the season.
Indeed, it would appear to be no coincidence that the Black Cats emerged victorious in both fixtures in which Evans has featured, while losing in the absence of the midfielder in their midweek clash at Burton Albion.
Meanwhile, although Younger is yet to feature in the league this season, the 21-year-old turned in a decent performance in the Carabao Cup win over Port Vale last week, with his injury putting further strain on a position in which the club already have Arbenit Xhemajli and Jordan Willis on the treatment table.
As such, the injuries to Evans and Younger will have left the manager gutted, and he will undoubtedly be hoping that his side can return to winning ways against Wimbledon on Saturday despite those two unwelcome absences.
In other news: SAFC in “advanced talks” over “fantastic” £180k-rated dynamo, Johnson will be buzzing