'Complications' - Sunderland boss issues Corry Evans injury update

Michael Beale says Sunderland midfielder Corry Evans is still not especially close to a return to fitness after more than a year out injured.

The Northern Irishman suffered a serious knee injury against Middlesbrough in January 2023 and has had to have surgery to repair cruciate ligament damage.

It has all been eerily quiet on Evans since, and while Michael Beale says he is making progress, he is not expecting him back particularly soon.

"He's still a little way off,” Beale said when asked about Evans’ progress. “When you have the injury he's had there's always going to be small complications."

Evans is still the club captain, although obviously most of his rehabilitation has been done away from the squad on his own.

That has seen his ability to influence things diminish considerably, and Beale says that has been a big miss given Sunderland have such a young squad.

"Mentors in the changing room when it's such a young group is important,” he said. “Don't get me wrong, a young group has no fear and it's vibrant and lively but mentors are still important.

"It's hard to be that if you're not playing. You can do that around the training ground but it's hard when you're not around it.

"We've certainly missed that. You don't play as many games and be an international and club captain if you don't have something about you. We can't replace what we don't have with him. Someone like Luke O'Nien has really stepped up.

"He's been a real leader in the dressing room but when Corry comes back it will be a big asset to the group."

Meanwhile, another one of Sunderland’s experienced midfielders, Bradley Dack, will be out for another month or so as he continues to recover from the hamstring problem he suffered at Hull on Boxing Day.

"He's been back out the last couple of days,” Beale said. “You're probably looking at the start of next month for Bradley."

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