---
title: "Sunderland: Alex Neil drops Alex Pritchard injury news"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/shrewsbury-team-news-pritchard-injury-league-one/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Adam Clancy"
section: "Sunderland News"
published: "2022-04-11T12:10:48Z"
modified: "2022-04-11T12:10:48Z"
---

# Sunderland: Alex Neil drops Alex Pritchard injury news

**Sunderland have now been gifted a big injury boost involving Alex Pritchard before they play Shrewsbury Town at home in League One on Friday night.**

### The Lowdown: Injury setback for Pritchard

After returning in the 1-0 win at home to Gillingham earlier this month, the 28-year-old was unable to play against Oxford United, meaning that he has only featured [once](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/alex-pritchard/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/200777/plus/0?saison=&verein=289&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) in the Black Cats’ last five league games.

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Nonetheless, the Stadium of Light faithful will be hoping that his injury is nothing too serious and that he will be able to return on Friday.

### The Latest: Pritchard should be okay

Alex Neil has now given an update on Pritchard’s fitness status, which has been shared on the Wearside club’s official [Twitter](https://twitter.com/SunderlandAFC/status/1513128411048284161) feed.

The manager revealed: *“He just wasn’t quite ready – his calf wasn’t feeling quite right, but hopefully he should be okay to face Shrewsbury.”*

### The Verdict: Big boost for Sunderland

If Pritchard is available for the match on Friday, then it will certainly be a big boost for Sunderland.

Before his injury, he was a mainstay in the team, having already managed four goals and 12 assists from midfield across all competitions so far this season ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/alex-pritchard/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/200777/plus/0?saison=&verein=289&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=)).

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Pritchard currently ranks joint-fourth in terms of the Black Cats’ best-performing players in the league this term, having picked up three Man of the Match (MotM) awards, the second-most behind Ross Stewart with 12 ([WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/16/Show/England-Sunderland)).

He also ranks highly amongst his team-mates in terms of average shots, key passes, crosses and through balls per game ([WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/16/Show/England-Sunderland)), and he is very much the creative hub in the side.

Pritchard’s return would surely be welcomed by the home supporters at the Stadium of Light.

***In other news,*** [***Neil thinks that this Sunderland player gets a ‘hard time’***](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/sunderland-afc-news/oxford-united-team-news-evans-league-one/)