Blow for Dodds: Sunderland now in defensive crisis after update on injury to “talented” player

Unlikely to make it into the play-offs and without a manager, Sunderland’s bad luck seems to be continuing in this awful second half of their Championship campaign. With the most recent injury news, interim manager Mike Dodds is now faced with resolving a defensive problem.

News of injuries sustained by Sunderland
In the midst of six straight losses, Sunderland could use some good fortune in terms of injuries. However, that hasn’t happened, and Dodds’ problems have only gotten worse due to the Black Cats injury list.

Finding defensive cover for the Queens Park Rangers game and the upcoming weeks will be Dodds’ top priority due to his nine absences. There is only one center-back option available to the Black Cats manager for Leo Hjelde will be the opponent this weekend, so they’ll either need to rely on inexperience or get creative.

Dodds can have a recurrence of the issue as a result of an injury update. Jenson Seelt is expected to be sidelined for a “long period of time” following an injury sustained during his last game against Southampton, as the defender verified on Instagram.

Sunderland fans at the Stadium of Light appear doomed to watch on as their campaign finishes with a whimper rather than the playoff push that they were on route for under Mowbray, with only nine games remaining and their team nine points outside of the Championship’s top six.

Protective choices Dodds may turn to Hjelde, who plays mostly as a left-back but may now be compelled to work alongside another inexperienced face at the center of Sunderland’s defence, compounding the situation. Dodds may also start Timothee Pembele, Trai Hume, and 18-year-old Tom Lavery in what is undoubtedly a terrible situation for a team trying to turn around their dismal performance.

Sunderland would struggle without Seelt in particular, considering the former manager Mowbray’s prior assessment of the defender: “I thought Jenson was good.” We’ve been thinking about getting him on the field, but given Ballard and O’Nien’s form, it’s challenging.

Indeed, he intended to Come on and play, he can play holding midfield. We were expecting him to roll into midfield, just like we usually do with Trai Hume. Because he is so skilled with the ball at his feet, Jenson is able to achieve that.”

With their injury woes, Sunderland doesn’t look likely to break out anytime soon as they bide their time for the awful season to come to a conclusion and the permanent appointment of a new manager. The Black Cats will be hoping to be ready to go come summer transfer window opening and resume their journey that Mowbray started them on.

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