Sunderland AFC injury news: Ellis Simms, Luke O'Nien, Bailey Wright, Dennis Cirkin, Ross Stewart and Edouard Michut latest

Sunderland have equipped themselves well since promotion from League One, winning four times, drawing twice and losing three times during their opening eight games.

The Black Cats were last in action against Reading away from home, winning 3-0 and scoring some superb goals.

Here, we take you through the situation surrounding injuries in Tony Mowbray’s squad:

Luke O’Nien

The defender is available for this weekend’s clash against Watford but is just one booking away from a suspension.

One to keep an eye on when the Black Cats take on the Hornets.

Dan Ballard

Dan Ballard will be on the sidelines for approximately eight weeks after suffering after the 22-year-old sustained a foot fracture during Sunderland’s 2-2 draw with QPR.

"It is difficult to put a timescale on it," former head coach Alex Neil said before his departure.

"We have a few other scans to undertake - and a couple of specialists to see - to fully understand the severity of it, but that process is underway to ensure he then receives the necessary treatment to get him back as soon as we can.”

Bailey Wright

The Australian was absent from the Sunderland squad altogether as Mowbray’s men faced Reading.

However, it is understood that Wright’s omission from the 18 at Reading was due to personal circumstances and not injury.

The defender has been named in the latest Australia squad.

Edouard Michut

Edouard Michut could be in contention to make his debut after the upcoming international break, according to Mowbray.

The Frenchman suffered a minor injury during his first days of training with Sunderland following the loan move from PSG.

I don't think he's too far away," Mowbray said.

"He's trained with us this week but we're still protecting him a little bit, he doesn't necessarily do all of the sessions just at the moment.

"I think the intensity of the training here has been higher than what he had recently, and so I think the first few days for him were hard and he had to be protected a bit.

"He was feeling it a bit and had a little setback, and we want to build him up bit by bit so he doesn't pull a hamstring or anything like that.

"He's probably a week or two away from being in contention, possibly after the international break he could be."

Niall Huggins

The full-back hasn’t featured yet this Championship season, Sunderland giving him all the time he needs to make a full and proper recovery.

The 21-year-old made an impressive start to life on Wearside after joining from Leeds United last season, but his campaign was brought to a premature end by two serious injuries.

Huggins suffered a stress fracture of the back before suffering the same injury in both of his heels as he began a comeback.

The defender is making progress in his recovery and travelled to Portugal with the Sunderland squad as he continued his rehabilitation with the club's medical team.

Huggins could return sometime after Christmas but has yet to even feature for the under-23s team yet this season.

Ross Stewart

Mowbray has confirmed striker Ross Stewart will be sidelined for at least six weeks.

Stewart picked up a thigh issue during the warm-up ahead of the 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough, meaning he was taken out of the starting XI.

Dennis Cirkin

Cirkin was also forced off during the match against Boro with a hamstring problem, yet the defender should be available after the upcoming international break.

"Dennis will be out for one to two weeks and it is as slight an injury as you will see,” said Mowbray. “He should be back in action within a fortnight.”

Ellis Simms

Mowbray provided an injury update on the fitness of Ellis Simms after he limped off during Sunderland’s win over Reading.

“It's his big toe, on the joint - he was struggling to push off and it's numb at the moment,” he said.

“We’ll probably x-ray that tomorrow (Thursday) and fingers crossed it’s not a break or a dislocation.

“It wasn’t ideal losing Ellis, he brings us a physicality and he's key at defending set pieces, as well.”