---
title: "Sunderland: Black Cats receive Denver Hume boost"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/sunderland-black-cats-receive-denver-hume-boost/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "League One News"
published: "2021-09-25T09:20:00Z"
modified: "2021-09-25T09:20:00Z"
---

# Sunderland: Black Cats receive Denver Hume boost

**Lee Johnson has confirmed that full-back Denver Hume is nearing his return to first-team action after injury, acting as a boost for Sunderland.**

### The Lowdown: Hume absent this season

The Black Cats have made a good start to their League One season, sitting second in the table with seven matches played.

One individual who hasn’t played a single minute to date in 2021/22 is Hume, however, with the 23-year-old out with a [hamstring injury](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/sunderland-boss-gives-denver-hume-and-niall-huggins-updates-as-he-weighs-up-key-selection-calls-3395811).

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### The Latest: Johnson provides key update

Speaking ahead of Sunderland’s league meeting with Bolton Wanderers at the Stadium of Light \[via [*The Sunderland Echo*](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/sunderland-boss-gives-denver-hume-and-niall-huggins-updates-as-he-weighs-up-key-selection-calls-3395811)\], Johnson claimed Hume will be back soon, playing for the Under-23s in order to step up his recovery:

> “Denver is coming along pretty nicely and could get some U23 minutes on Monday night \[away at Wolves\].
>
> “We’ve then got a game in the Papa John’s Trophy at Lincoln City eight days later, and providing he comes through Monday OK he could have some involvement there.”

\[freshpress-quiz id=”350925″\]

### The Verdict: Big boost for Sunderland

Hume may not necessarily be an indispensable figure for the Black Cats – he made [23 League One appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/denver-hume/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/423617/verein/289) last season – but his return will be an undoubted boost, having been [hailed](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/latest-sunderland-afc-news/sunderland-boss-hails-terrific-luke-onien-and-has-praise-promising-left-back-denver-hume-after-southend-win-825244) as ‘unplayable’ by Phil Parkinson in the past.

The left-back can provide competition for youngster Dennis Cirkin, who has stepped up and made [five league starts](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/390876/Show/Dennis-Cirkin) already this season, potentially becoming first-choice if he rids himself of his injury problems.

Hume’s return may still be a few weeks away, but he will provide more depth for Johnson when he comes back, strengthening Sunderland’s promotion push in the process.

***In other news, Sunderland legend Kevin Phillips has dropped a verdict on one current player. Read more* [here](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/league-one/sunderland/sunderland-kevin-phillips-drops-bailey-wright-verdict/).**