Sunderland have become synonymous with injuries in the last few years, especially since making their return to the Championship in 2022.
Since Sunderland returned to the Championship in 2022, winning promotion from League One via the play-offs, almost every manager the Black Cats have had has had to endure some kind of injury hell.
Alex Neil wasn’t there for too long in the second tier, but Tony Mowbray, Michael Beale, and now Regis Le Bris have all had to wade through troubled waters on the injury front, with injuries now showing no signs of easing up.
It gets to the point where Sunderland fans forget certain players exit: Ian Poveda has had several injuries since joining in the summer along with Ahmed Abdullahi who’s seemingly no closer to making a return to action.
And Sunderland haven’t just had multiple injuries, but they almost always seem to be concentrated in attack with Le Bris having had to deal without the likes of Romaine Mundle and Tommy Watson for sustained periods of time this season, and both at the same time too.
Another injured attacker right now is Jayden Danns.
Jayden Danns injury latest at Sunderland
Sunderland fans have really scrutinised the signing of Danns, who joined on loan from Liverpool on deadline day back in February and looked like a really strong signing for the Black Cats. But a back injury discovered upon arriving at the Stadium of Light has sidelined him ever since he signed and it’s starting to look increasingly likely we’ll never see him in a Sunderland shirt.
Recently, Danns was spotted back at Liverpool where he’s seemingly stepping up his recovery in the comfort of his parent club. And journalist James Copley has now shared some further insight on the matter after Le Bris appeared to play down the chances of Danns featuring any time soon.
Copley has revealed that Danns is still at Liverpool, adding that he doesn’t believe the 19-year-old is back in full training yet. Per Capology, Danns earns £129,000-a-year at Liverpool.
Eliezer Mayenda and Wilson Isidor’s Championship stats this season
Whilst Danns’ injury is a blow for him and the Black Cats, it’s not all bad. Le Bris has since seen Eliezer Mayenda take another step in his progression and become a really exciting Championship striker.
Mayenda has really stepped up in 2025 and in the last several weeks in particular; good news since Danns is looking unlikely to play for the club, and good news because Isidor’s form has been somewhat patchy in the last couple of months too.
| Statistic (Championship) | Wilson Isidor in 24/25 | Eliezer Mayenda in 24/25 |
| Games | 37 | 32 |
| Goals | 12 | 7 |
| xG | 14.23 | 8.58 |
| Big chances missed | 20 | 12 |
| Goal conversion % | 14 | 14 |
If Le Bris can keep both strikers fit and firing going into the play-offs, which now looks inevitable for the Black Cats, then Le Bris and Sunderland will stand a very good chance of being promoted this season.
Up next is a trip to Norwich City on Tuesday night.