Sunderland AFC news RECAP: Aiden McGeady and Dion Sanderson updates plus latest promotion odds as Cats prepare for Accrington Stanley clash

Watch more of our videos on Shots!
and live on Freeview channel 276

Sunderland’s automatic promotion hopes suffered another blow after a 2-2 at league leaders Hull City this week.

Indeed, the Wearsiders haven’t won since the Good Friday clash against Oxford United, which was followed by draws against the Tigers and Peterborough United, plus losses to Charlton, Wigan and Blackpool

But will Aiden McGeady who missed the Hull match with a foot injury, play any part in the clash against Stanley?

It’s hoped the 35-year-old will play a part in the run-in, though, with just four games left to play in the regular League One season.

McGeady has been influential since his return to the Sunderland side, scoring four goals and registering an impressive 13 assists across all competitions.

Sunderland have fallen seven points behind second-place Peterborough, who also have a game in hand on the Wearsiders.

Here’s the latest from the Stadium of Light.

A message from the Football Clubs Editor

Our aim is to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative Sunderland AFC coverage 365 days a year.

This depth of coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to, please consider taking out a subscription to our new sports-only package here.

Your support is much appreciated. Richard Mennear, Football Clubs Editor

Sunderland AFC transfer news RECAP (April 23)

Key Events

Lee Johnson’s side will be hoping to return to winning ways when they face Accrington Stanley tomorrow
Sunderland have fallen seven points behind second-place Peterborough, who also have a game in hand on the Wearsiders
Lee Johnson is sweating on the fitness of Aiden McGeady who missed the Hull City clash with foot swelling
Yesterday, the head coach said the attacker is 50-50 for the game against Accrington Stanley

Fri, 23 Apr, 2021, 15:00 BST

Thanks for joining us today

That’s it for today but we’ll be back tomorrow with live coverage of Sunderland’s home game against Accrington Stanley.

You can find more Black Cats news, analysis and more on the SAFC section of the Echo website.

See you soon.

Fri, 23 Apr, 2021, 14:59 BST

Sunderland Ladies could be handed a major boost

Sunderland Ladies will be offered the opportunity to apply for promotion to the Women’s Championship for the 2021/22 season, the FA have this afternoon confirmed.

Mel Reay’s side saw their campaign curtailed for the second successive year last month, with the FA initial saying that there would be no promotion to the second tier.

However, they have today announced their intention to promote two teams ahead of the new campaign.

Clubs from the FA WNL Northern Premier (Sunderland’s current division) and the FAW WNL Southern Premier are elgible to apply.

Sunderland have not yet confirmed whether they will apply, but Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman told a supporters’ collective meeting in March that the club wanted to secure a return to the Championship ‘as soon as possible’.

Arbenit Xhemajli update

Lee Johnson is hopeful that Arbenit Xhemajli could make his Sunderland return in pre-season, and believes the centre-half could have a big future at the club.

Xhemajli was identified by Sunderland last summer as a potential recruit based largely on his impressive statistical returns at Swiss club Neuchatel Xamax.

The 23-year-old was only able to make one appearance for the Black Cats in a 8-1 EFL Trophy win over Aston Villa U21’s before suffering a major ligament injury on international duty with Kosovo.

Johnson had earmarked Xhemajli as a potentially crucial player based on his own research of the Sunderland squad before arriving, and is therefore encouraged to see him making good progress.

Accrington boss on facing Sunderland

Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman has been speaking ahead of this weekend’s League One clash at the Stadium of Light.

And the 58-year-old former Rochdale boss had some complimentary words for the Black Cats, their fans and head Lee Johnson.

“Going to the Stadium of Light should lift anybody, players of our standard, and possibly that’s why Sunderland have had that problem the last couple of years that people are enthused by going there,” said Coleman.

“Logic says an empty stadium should favour us rather than the home side, but I am not thinking about that. I am thinking how we play against 11 Sunderland players not the very passionate and vociferous Mackems.

“It’s nice to be going to these places like the Stadium of Light but these clubs should be playing higher.”