Sunderland defender's delight after first appearance in 19 months
Wales' Niall Huggins
Niall Huggins(Image: Football Association of Wales)
There will be few people connected with Sunderland that will look back upon their opening pre-season friendly fixtures with more pride and satisfaction that Niall Huggins.
For almost 19 months, the Black Cats full-back has undertaken a painstaking recovery from a serious knee injury suffered in a home defeat against Coventry City and the gruelling rehabilitation from the surgery that followed.
There were positive signs towards the end of last season as Huggins made a return to light training and, by Regis Le Bris’ own admission, only a cautious approach to his return to fitness prevented the defender from making an appearance during the final weeks of the Championship season.
The 24-year-old watched on from the sidelines as his side claimed a return to the Premier League via the second tier play-offs - but his frustration came to a long-awaited end with a 45-minute display as a strong Sunderland side claimed a 4-0 win against National League North side South Shields on Saturday.
Speaking after his return at the 1st Cloud Arena, the Black Cats full-back reflected on tough mental challenges he had taken on during his battle to return to fitness ahead of a big summer for both the club and himself.
He told Chronicle Live: “It's been great to be back out there. The main thing was just not to put too much pressure on myself and just enjoy myself.
“You take it for granted when you are playing and fit. I just wanted to enjoy it. I'm feeling good. It's really underestimated how tough it is mentally.
“I had a good run of games, I thought I was going to take off from there then it happens from nowhere and it's out of your control. It's been a tough road back, I've had so many ups and downs.
“I'm just appreciative to be back on the pitch and to be able to play football again. That's what I love to do.”
In what was a very promising start to Sunderland’s pre-season schedule, Huggins’ performance against the National League North side was one of the many positives for head coach Le Bris.
The full-back showed all of his obvious attacking qualities and looked solid in defence as his side claimed a 4-0 win at the 1st Cloud Arena and appears to have given himself a solid foundation as he looks to re-establish himself in the senior ranks at the Stadium of Light.
Huggins revealed his is growing in confidence with every passing day and has ‘extra motivation’ to return to his best over the coming weeks and months as Sunderland prepare to take their place in the top flight.
He said: “You have days when you come back in from training and think 'I was rubbish today'. Your awareness can be a little bit slower.
“But it's about having that confidence in yourself. I have that extra motivation now to get back to where I was. I know I can play at that level and I have played at that level.
“The more reps I get in, it will all come back. I'm looking forward to the rest of pre-season.”
The next step in Sunderland’s preparations for their return to the Premier League will come with a training camp in Portugal that will also consist of friendly fixtures against Primeira Liga giants Sporting CP and seven-time Europa League winners Sevilla.
With his first 45 minutes of pre-season now under his belt, former Leeds United youngster Huggins is fully focused on enjoying the next month as the Black Cats work towards facing West Ham United in the opening fixture of an exciting campaign.
“I think it will build more and more through pre-season,” he explained.
“I just came in today looking to enjoy myself. Before the game I was putting too much pressure on but speaking to my family and girlfriend they just told me to enjoy myself. It's what I love to do and I haven't done it for a long time.
“Today was just about enjoying myself and as pre-season goes on it will build to get back to where I was and where I want to be.”