Sunderland midfielder Noah Sadiki was withdrawn for DR Congo against Zimbabwe due to injury.
Sunderland have suffered yet another injury concern within the ongoing international break, this time with energetic midfielder Noah Sadiki.
On Monday evening, Sadiki started for DR Congo in his nation’s 2-1 African Cup of Nations qualifier win over Zimbabwe, but was forced off after 75 minutes with an injury concern.
Following the victory, Sadiki was pictured walking around the field with a limp, and Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris will be praying that the 21-year-old’s knock does not transpire to be serious to add further woe on Wearside.
Already during the international break, both striker Brian Brobbey and centre-back Dan Ballard have suffered hamstring injuries for their respective nations, leaving the Stadium of Light hierarchy nervously awaiting the timescale for the pair’s period on the sidelines.
Ballard has returned from the Northern Ireland camp to Sunderland for a scan on his hamstring issue, with Dutchman Brobbey also out of action for Xavi’s side for the remainder of the international break.
Thankfully, Sadiki’s knock seems to be less serious than the injuries to both Ballard and Brobbey, but the sight of the midfielder’s discomfort at the end of the national fixture will be yet another unwanted headache for the Black Cats to contend with.
Noah Sadiki in action for Sunderland against AZ Alkmaar (Action Images via Reuters)Sunderland Need Noah Sadiki For Difficult Run
An injury to Sadiki would not be disastrous for Sunderland, but it would certainly be a sizeable blow for Le Bris ahead of a testing run of fixtures.
When the international break finally and thankfully concludes, Sunderland host in-form Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League before travelling to Portuguese second division side SCU Torreense for their first away day of the Europa League campaign.
Afterwards, Le Bris’ side travel to Bournemouth and Lech Poznan within the space of four days before hosting rivals Leeds United in an inevitably fierce Stadium of Light clash.
Considering that Sadiki has continued to be a mainstay in Le Bris’ Premier League and European starting XIs so far this season, with some impressive performances along the way, the Black Cats will be desperate for confirmation that the Congolese starlet’s knock is nothing too serious.
Currently, there has been no indication that there will be a period on the Sunderland sidelines for Sadiki, and it will be telling to see whether the midfielder features for Congo against Uganda on Friday evening or in the second fixture on Monday.
If he doesn’t, then the anxieties surrounding Sunderland’s prevalent injury issues within the international break will only heighten among the Black Cats faithful given how important Sadiki is as the athletic engine of Le Bris’ midfield.
