Gav says…
To be honest, it was just good to see Niall Huggins out on the pitch again, doing what he does best.
I honestly don’t know if he has a future with Sunderland and I suspect that he probably doesn’t, not long term anyways, but that doesn’t distract from what a monumental occasion that was for that young man.
I feel for Niall because he’s clearly a very good footballer. He’s shown it plenty of times for Sunderland, and a fit Niall Huggins probably plays Premier League football at some point because he has everything you’d want from a modern full back. Even at South Shields he showed he’s still got pace and athleticism, which given he’s done his knee and had loads of injuries is remarkable.
He deserves so much credit for getting himself fit, as I can only imagine what the mental toll of spending so much time out of the games takes on someone who just wants to play football and do their job.
It would be a huge ask for him to play Premier League football for Sunderland, but given that clubs are unlikely to take a punt on him with his injury record I suspect he’ll be kept around the squad and may even get a chance now and then off the bench, which I’m absolutely fine with. He’s got ability, and it would be one of the greatest comebacks of all time if he somehow managed to establish himself in Sunderland’s team after everything he’s been through.
'I’ve come out the other end and I feel good now, and as time goes on my knee is only going to feel stronger, and my confidence will grow.'
️ Niall Huggins
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) July 13, 2025
Cal Mills says…
I was really pleased to see him back.
He has had some horrendous injuries over the years and not long ago, the knee injury he suffered was a career-ender for players who’d suffered it.
Although it was only a forty five-minute run out, I thought he looked sharp. The one element of his game I thought he would lose was his pace, yet he turned on the ball twice and breezed past his man and burst down the wing on one occasion.
I think he has a lot to offer and with Dennis Cirkin currently sidelined and not yet having signed a new deal, and if he stays fit I think he has a real chance of his career at Sunderland kicking on.
Prior to his injury, I thought he was our best right back and although it won’t be a popular opinion, as we had Trai Hume, but I thought his bursting runs, willingness to track back and offer overlapping runs was a different style — it reminded me of Micky Gray getting beyond Allan Johnston all those years ago!
Pre-season for him is huge, as it is with several other players. If he comes through the next four weeks unscathed, I think he stays to push for a starting berth in the team. He can play on both sides of defence which is a rarity but it means we have cover.
Joseph Tulip says…
It’s fantastic to see Huggins back on a football field again.
During his most recent run of games for Sunderland, Huggins established himself as a regular full back and looked to be finally fulfilling his potential in a Sunderland shirt.
His performances were up there with those of Trai Hume and his ability to play at either right back or left back was a welcome quality in the absence of Dennis Cirkin due to injury.
With Cirkin sidelined once again, Huggins has another chance to stake his claim in pre-season and got off to a flying start on Saturday.
The Premier League will present the biggest challenge of his career so far, but with no new full backs through the door (at the time of writing), Huggins could have the chance of a lifetime if he can stay fit and force his way into Regis Le Bris’ starting XI.
His ability has never been in question, so like our other Championship stars who are yet to gain any Premier League experience, Niall’s return to fitness could not have been better timed.
South Shields v Sunderland - Pre Season Friendly - 1st Cloud Arena Photo by Owen Humphreys/PA Images via Getty Images