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Sunderland Handed Defensive Boost as Huggins Cleared for Brentford Clash Amid Henderson’s Homecoming
Sunderland have been handed a welcome lift on the injury front with confirmation that Niall Huggins is fit and available for Saturday’s Premier League showdown against Brentford at the Stadium of Light.
The Welsh defender was forced off at half-time during Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup defeat to Huddersfield Town, sparking fears of yet another long-term setback. Having endured a series of injury issues in recent seasons, his failure to reappear after the break raised alarm bells among supporters and staff alike.
Fortunately for the Black Cats, Huggins trained fully with the squad at the Academy of Light on Friday morning, and manager Régis Le Bris revealed he is now in contention for a place in tomorrow’s matchday squad.
> “He recovered well because he was in good shape this morning and trained,” said Le Bris. “We don’t have any new injury issues. At the moment, we have around 15 or 16 players who could start.”
The Brentford clash is expected to be an emotional one for Wearside fans, with **Jordan Henderson** set to return to his boyhood club. The former Sunderland academy product, who lifted both the Premier League and Champions League with Liverpool, joined the Bees this summer following his release from Ajax. Sunderland had been linked with a move for the veteran midfielder, but opted instead to recruit Switzerland captain **Granit Xhaka** to anchor their midfield.
> “We know all about him \[Henderson],” added Le Bris. “He is a really good player, very experienced. At this level, it’s vital to strike the right balance between younger players and those with more experience.”
Brentford arrive in the North East amid a period of transition, with **Keith Andrews** taking charge in the summer after Thomas Frank’s departure. The Bees lost key players including **Bryan Mbeumo** and **Christian Nørgaard**, while Yoane Wissa is also pushing for a move to Newcastle and is not expected to feature this weekend.
Despite those exits, Brentford have made an impressive start to the campaign. They followed up last weekend’s league victory over Aston Villa with a midweek Carabao Cup win at Bournemouth, showing their resilience under their new boss.
Le Bris is under no illusions about the challenge ahead.
> “We don’t expect any gifts from them,” he said. “They’re well-rounded, well-organised, and have built up plenty of Premier League experience. They’re strong on set-pieces, direct, but can also mix their play short or long. It will be a tough test for us.”
With Henderson’s homecoming, Brentford’s evolving identity, and Sunderland boosted by Huggins’ return, all eyes will be on the Stadium of Light for what promises to be a compelling encounter.
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