Wycombe Wanderers FC manager Mike Dodds, and Sunderland AFC defender Niall Huggins. Overlaid, the Wycombe Wanderers FC badge.
Wycombe Wanderers FC manager Mike Dodds, and Sunderland AFC defender Niall Huggins. Overlaid, the Wycombe Wanderers FC badge.
League One outfit Wycombe Wanderers are set to sign a Sunderland full-back on a season-long loan deal.
Wycombe Wanderers have endured a torrid start to the 2025/26 League One campaign, with two draws and four defeats from their opening six clashes under Mike Dodds.
The former Sunderland coach, who was highly rated on Wearside and had two interim spells in charge of the Black Cats, was appointed as Chairboys boss in February.
Unfortunately for Dodds, the summer transfer window has mirrored the disappointment around the club, with prized asset Richard Kone leaving Wycombe for QPR earlier in the window.
However, the mood regarding Wycombe’s business could now change with Dodds employing his Sunderland connections to attract a Black Cats star to Adams Park.
Mike Dodds, head coach of Wycombe Wanderers, before the Sky Bet League One Play Off Semi Final First Leg match between Wycombe Wanderers and Charlton Athletic
Photo by Harry Murphy/Getty Images
Wycombe Wanderers to sign Sunderland full-back Niall Huggins on loan
Sunderland won the Championship play-off final in May to earn promotion to the Premier League, and as a result, several fringe members of Regis Le Bris’ squad have been mooted for departures.
EFL Analysis exclusively revealed earlier in the window that League One and League Two clubs wanted Trey Ogunsuyi on loan, but Scottish top flight Falkirk won the race for the highly-rated striker’s services.
Earlier on deadline day, reports emerged that Birmingham City are set to sign Patrick Roberts on loan ahead of Derby County.
Now, the Northern Echo have outlined that Niall Huggins is set to join Wycombe on loan for the 2025/26 season.
After arriving at the Stadium of Light from his boyhood club Leeds United in 2021, Huggins has featured just 29 times for the Black Cats.
Club name Appearances
Leeds United 1
Sunderland 29
Several long-term injury issues have hampered Huggins’ game time, but when fit, the versatile full-back has shown flashes of supreme quality with both his attacking qualities and defensive ability.
With his years at Sunderland coinciding with Huggins, Wycombe boss Dodds is well aware of the qualities that the 24-year-old will bring to Adams Park this season.
Niall Huggins reacts before Sunderland vs Sevilla in a Pre-Season Friendly
Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images
Mike Dodds praised Niall Huggins during their time together at Sunderland
Sunderland fans will attest that Huggins has undoubted quality as the epitome of a modern-day full-back, but consistent injury issues have plagued his time at the Stadium of Light.
In the 2023/24 Championship season, Huggins scored a screamer against Watford in October, but only two months later, he was ruled out for a significant period after suffering a horrific knee injury in a 3-0 defeat to Coventry City.
As quoted by the Northern Echo, Dodds said of Huggins in 2023: “We think he has a really high ceiling in terms of what we think he can achieve.
“Unfortunately he just hasn’t had the level of consistency anyone would want yet, but touch wood he seems to have found that and people are starting to see what a really good player he is.
“From a coach’s perspective he’s a dream to work with, because he’s really receptive to feedback, he wants to get better and he can play in a variety of positions.
“He’s really adaptable and I know he’s not going to let me down.”
Huggins’ only appearance of the campaign so far came in Sunderland’s Carabao Cup loss to Huddersfield Town, in which the Welsh international was withdrawn at half-time due to a groin injury and is now sidelined until late September.
If Huggins can stay fit, Dodds will be elated that Wycombe have attracted a full-back who is amply capable on both flanks, and one who would be fighting for a starting spot at Sunderland without his long list of injuries.