3 Niall Huggins replacements Sunderland could sign in January after injury blow confirmed | OneFootball

Michael Beale may have picked up his first win as Sunderland head coach on Boxing Day against Hull City, but a significant blow has since emerged.

On his debut as Black Cats boss, which was a devastating 3-0 home defeat against Coventry City, Beale saw full-back Niall Huggins stretchered from the pitch late on in the contest after landing awkwardly on his knee.

After two wretched years at the Stadium of Light filled with injuries, Huggins was finally getting a run of games under his belt this season, only for his season to be potentially ended before 2023 comes to a close.

Sunderland have confirmed that the 23-year-old will undergo knee surgery and will likely miss the rest of the 2023-24 season, and that means that the Wearsiders will likely have to dip into the transfer market for a short-term replacement.

Let's take a look at THREE players that could be targeted from other clubs that could fill in for Huggins in his absence.

3 Conor Bradley

It's very well known that Sunderland love to sign young players and play them in the first-team, whether that is on loan or permanently, and they could offer Bradley the chance to get more first-team football if Liverpool are going to allow the Northern Ireland international to depart for the rest of the season.

Bradley had a fantastic 2022-23 season on loan at Bolton Wanderers in League One, scoring five times and notching four assists for the Trotters in the third tier of English football, but another temporary exit from Anfield over the summer was prevented due to an injury.

He has since played three times in the UEFA Europa League and EFL Cup, and there is every chance that Jurgen Klopp could decide that the 20-year-old is needed for cover.

However, if made available, then Bradley is the number one target that Beale and Sunderland should be making a play for.

2 Ben Johnson

Johnson is out of favour at West Ham despite playing 29 times in all competitions last season, and with a contract that is expiring at the London Stadium at the end of the season, the 23-year-old could be a smart pickup for any top Championship side.

The versatile defender has been restricted to just six outings under David Moyes so far this season and just one of those has come in the form of a Premier League cameo, so there's a huge chance that there will be an exit coming in January.

Sunderland can afford to pay decent wages for the right player, and with his best years ahead of him, Johnson could be a coup for the Black Cats.

1 Connor Roberts

Rarely do Sunderland sign players over the age of their early 20's, but for a bit of short-term cover for Huggins, Roberts could be ideal - especially as he has promotion-winning experience.

Roberts was a real regular for Burnley last season as they romped to the Championship title, but he has lost his place in Vincent Kompany's starting 11 recently in the Premier League with Vitinho favoured.

The 28-year-old deserves to be playing matches and providing Burnley can get some cover in January, then Roberts could be a viable and realistic player to try and land for the Black Cats.