One rarely-used Sunderland man is set to play a crucial role in the final stages of the 2024/25 Championship season.
Despite recent form, Sunderland have endured a widely successful Championship campaign, which sees Regis Le Bris’ side currently sit 4th in the table.
Sunderland went into the international break, however, with various concerns, from the most recent hammering by Frank Lampard’s Coventry City at the CBS Arena, to various fitness and injury concerns plagued about the squad.
January signings Enzo Le Fee and Jayden Danns find themselves out injured, although the former could be in line with a return to the grass soon, whilst Sunderland’s Dennis Cirkin is the most recent to pick up a knock.
Cirkin was called up to England U21s but had to withdraw due to injury unfortunately. For Sunderland, they will now have to turn towards back-up option Leo Hjelde, despite one concern.
Sunderland defender Leo Hjelde has the backing of Regis Le Bris as he’s set to play a crucial role
Due to Cirkin’s injury concerns, which will most likely make him unavailable in the next set of games, Le Bris is most likely to turn towards Hjelde to fill the vacancy at left-back.
Despite only having two starts this season, both of which came in 2-1 wins against Sheffield Wednesday and Cardiff City back-to-back, it is clear that the French boss has full support and belief in the back-up to play an ‘important’ part.
Le Bris said two weeks ago: “For me, it was clear that he could provide this support for the centre-back and left-back positions.
“He has been really important for us and he deserved this chance. He played well, he has been really important for us.”
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The one concern for Leo Hjelde
In the back-to-back games recently that saw Hjelde notch two starts, he looked assured defensively, and even picked up an assist in the visit to Sheffield Wednesday, setting up Eliezer Mayenda with a lofted ball forward for the opener.
However, with Cirkin’s injury, having Hjelde as the next option can cause worries, not because of his ability, but more the sheer lack of game time and the toll it could take having to notch regular 90 minutes, having played an irregular part this season.
Hjelde recently picked up a minor injury, and whilst he will almost certainly be okay for the upcoming game, it shows that he is susceptible to pick-up knocks here and there, something that won’t bode well with Sunderland’s lack of depth behind the Norwegian.