---
title: "Sunderland: Nial Huggins ‘will be on the coach to Birmingham’"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/birmingham-team-news-huggins-injury-championship/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Adam Clancy"
section: "Championship News"
published: "2022-11-11T09:15:49Z"
modified: "2022-11-11T09:15:49Z"
---

# Sunderland: Nial Huggins ‘will be on the coach to Birmingham’

**Tony Mowbray has said that Niall Huggins ‘will be on the coach’ as [Sunderland](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/sunderland-afc-news/) take on Birmingham City in the [Championship](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/championship-news/) tonight.**

### The Lowdown: Injury problems

The 21-year-old has suffered from some really unfortunate injury problems since arriving at the Stadium of Light, restricting him to a mere [four](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/niall-huggins/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/559801/plus/0?saison=&verein=289&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) senior appearances for the Wearside club.

The right-back made his return to the pitch for the under-21s last month and has played [three](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/niall-huggins/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/559801/plus/0?saison=2022&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) games in total for Graeme Murty’s team so far this season.

### The Latest: Huggins in the squad

Speaking to the media in his pre-game press conference ahead of Sunderland’s match at Birmingham tonight, Mowbray has [confirmed](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/niall-huggins-sunderlands-squad-travelling-25483969) that Huggins is back training with the first team and ‘will be on the coach’ to the ground with the rest of the squad.

The 58-year-old [stated](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/niall-huggins-sunderlands-squad-travelling-25483969) that Huggins *“is fully back in with the first team and he will be on the coach travelling with us to Birmingham”.*

\[freshpress-quiz id=”410591″\]

### The Verdict: Timely boost for Sunderland

After Mowbray admitted that his side have ‘[lots](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/niall-huggins-sunderlands-squad-travelling-25483969)‘ of injuries going into tonight’s clash, having Huggins back in the first team – having made [no senior appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/niall-huggins/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/559801/plus/0?saison=2022&verein=289&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) so far in this campaign – is no doubt a timely boost for Sunderland.

There was a lot of promise for Huggins when he first arrived from Leeds United, with the Black Cats’ manager at the time Lee Johnson [praising](https://safc.com/news/team-news/2021/august/huggins-signs-four-year-deal) his versatility, physicality and speed.

Equally as comfortable at playing [both](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/niall-huggins/profil/spieler/559801) right-back and left-back, the youngster’s extra versatility will also be welcomed by Mowbray, especially if the Sunderland boss has a number of players unavailable in the full-back positions.