Sunderland AFC injury news: Situation on Nathan Broadhead, Aiden McGeady, Luke O'Nien, Lee Burge and Bailey Wright

That’s after the Wearsiders lost their last two league games 6-0 away to Bolton Wanderers and 2-1 at home to Doncaster Rovers.

The club remains on the hunt for a new head coach following the sacking of Lee Johnson last week.

But what is the latest on Sunderland’s injured players?

Here, we take you through everything you need to know:

Nathan Broadhead

Before his sacking, Lee Johnson has said that he was “very confident” that Nathan Broadhead will play again for Sunderland this season.

Broadhead suffered a serious hamstring injury at Arsenal in the Carabao Cup quarter-final in December 2021.

It was deemed surgery was not required, which left the Black Cats hopeful that his lay-off would be around three months, rather than the rest of the season.

The striker has been rehabbing at parent club Everton and is set to make a return before the end of the campaign.

However, no timeframe has yet been given.

Aiden McGeady and Luke O’Nien

Luke O'Nien and Aiden McGeady are both on track in their recoveries from shoulder and knee problems respectively.

Both have been out on the grass at the Academy of Light this week.

O'Nien was ruled out for three months in late November, while McGeady was ruled out for a similar timeframe around the same time.

Johnson, before his departure, stated that O’Nien could be back playing sooner than McGeady owing to the midfielder’s fitness and an on-going problem with the attacker’s medial ligament.

Lee Burge

Lee Burge is facing an extended absence from Sunderland action as the club continue to monitor his recent heart issues.

Burge underwent blood tests in the aftermath of his positive COVID-19 test at the end of January, the results of which raised some concerns.

As a result, the 29-year-old is facing a period of rest of around a month, after which he will undergo another round of tests.

Sunderland are confident that the issue identified will clear at that point, and that the goalkeeper will make a full recovery

Bailey Wright

Bailey Wright is closing in on a return, but with Kristjaan Speakman saying on Wednesday that he is a week to ten days away fitness, he is a major doubt for both of the next two games.

Arbenit Xhemajli

Mike Dodds praised Xhemajli for being 'a proper pro' post-Doncaster Rovers as he waits for an opportunity in the first team.

Dodds confirmed that it was merely a tactical decision to omit the defender from his squad against Rovers and not down to injury.

"We decided not to include Arby based on the fact that we had Trai, who is a defender, on the bench and that we had the shape-change with Winchester in mind," Dodds said.

"We didn't feel that we needed another defender on the bench.

"Arby has been magnificent, he has been working with me with the U23s and he has been a proper pro.”

Jordan Willis

A recent 'failed operation' has resulted in Jordan Willis' patella tendon snapping for a second time.

The defender initially suffered the set back last April.

Since then, Willis hasn’t been seen in a Sunderland shirt but has been keeping busy at the Academy of Light.

That’s after he was handed some analysis and scouting responsibilities by ex-head coach Lee Johnson.

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