Sunderland AFC news: What is known about the Dion Sanderson injury rumours as League One rivals suffer potential manager blow

The Black Cats are looking to bounce back with a win following back-to-back losses against Charlton and Wigan.

The results means Sunderland are now five points adrift of second-place Peterborough United but with no game in hand Posh.

The Wearsiders are now eight points off league-leaders Hull City but have just one game in hand on the Tigers plus a game to play against Grant McCann’s men.

Here, though, we take you through all of the latest news and talk from around the division that you may have missed today:

The injury rumours surrounding Dion Sanderson – what we know

The fitness of Dion Sanderson has become a major talking point today with rumours swirling around social media.

Indeed, there have been claims from some that the Wolves loanee defender is set to miss the rest of the season with a back injury.

The defender played the full 90 minutes against Wigan Athletic on Tuesday evening.

However, Lee Johnson did concede after the game that the youngster had complained of a back issue in the build-up to the fixture.

"Dion Sanderson's back has been an issue all week,” he said after the defeat.

"We were a little bit light in that area, but at the same time I don’t think that’s any excuse because it wasn’t really central defence that cost us."

Johnson and Sunderland’s medical staff will continue to monitor Sanderson ahead of the trip to Blackpool.

Sunderland’s head coach is set to give an update on the centre back at his weekly press conference on Friday before the trip to Bloomfield Road.

Sunderland’s League One rivals suffer further manager blow

It is possible that Shrewsbury Town manager Steve Cotterill may not make it back to the dugout before the end of the season following a long illness

Town chief executive Brian Caldwell has admitted there is a strong chance that the former Sunderland assistant manager and Portsmouth manager may not return properly to work again before the start of next season.

The club has now played 20 matches without their manager in attendance after he tested positive for Covid-19 three months ago.

But Caldwell said: "Steve's health has to come first."

He told BBC Radio Shropshire: "There is a possibility that he might come back and watch a game before the end of the season, but we don't want to put any timescales on it.

"If it's next season that he returns to Shrewsbury, then it's next season.

"It's been a long road to recovery for him and the most important thing is that he comes back next season fit and well."

Shrewsbury Town are currently 18th in League One and have games against Wigan Athletic, Blackpool and Doncaster Rovers ahead of them in the run-in.

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