Sunderland welcome Oxford United to Wearside this weekend, following the U’s promotion from League One under Des Buckingham last season.
Sunderland are back at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, where this season’s surprise package so far visit.
Oxford United currently sit in 11th place of the Championship table. But the U’s have now drawn their last five in the league.
Their last game was a 1-1 draw at home to Derby County in midweek. U’s boss Des Buckingham though was unable to do the post-match press conference after suffering from dizziness during the game.
Oxford United boss Des Buckingham suffers health scare vs Derby County
Oxford assistant coach Craig Short handled the press after the game against Derby County.
He revealed that Buckingham stayed until the end of the game but left shortly after, suffering from dizziness.
Short told the press: “He stayed till the end of the game but two or three times felt dizzy and had to hold on to the side.
“We asked him whether he’d eaten anything funny but he said no, he’d just had the normal pre-match meal.
“He’s been seen by the club doctor and is still not right so we felt it is best if he gets himself away from the stadium and off home.”
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The latest on Des Buckingham ahead of Sunderland vs Oxford United
The Derby County game was on Tuesday night. On Wednesday it was reported by Oxford Mail that Buckingham was set to take first-team training that day.
Since, there’s been no reports suggesting otherwise, with Buckingham seemingly in the clear to take charge of his side’s game against Sunderland this weekend.
Des Buckingham management record and career so far
Buckingham is still quite an unknown in English management, but he’s certainly making a name for himself with hometown team Oxford.
The 39-year-old had a very brief playing career, spending time in the youth academies at Reading and Oxford United before turning his attention to coaching.
He got his break working with Oxford United, first with the youth teams and then as a first-team coach under then boss Chris Wilder.
But it’s abroad where Buckingham made his name. He managed Wellington Phoenix and the New Zealand U20s and U23s, even having a spell as caretaker boss of the senior team.
Buckingham then had two years in charge of Mumbai City in the Indian Super League before returning to England with Oxford in 2023, guiding them to promotion from League One via the play-offs.
He has a staggering 50.3% win record throughout his whole managerial career, having claimed 84 wins from 167 games as a manager.