Niall Huggins lifts lid on injury hell that '100%' made him fear for his career

Sunderland full-back Niall Huggins has opened up on his 'horrendous' injury nightmare.

Niall Huggins says he ‘100% feared for his career’ during his Sunderland injury nightmare.

Huggins signed for Sunderland in the summer of 2021 and he initially impressed as he settled at the club.

However, he then suffered a back injury, and while doctors could tell him what it was, they were unable to ascertain the actual cause.

That situation worsened when the same started to happen in other parts of his body during attempts to regain fitness. Understandably, considering it essentially took two years out of his career, It took its toll on him mentally.

Asked if he genuinely feared for his career during those months out injured, Huggins told the Press Association: “Yes, 100 per cent.

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“The last two years have been horrendous, awful to be honest. When I first joined Sunderland, I suffered an initial stress fracture in my back and that put me out for four or five months.

“I had the same sort of issue but in different places when I was doing my rehab and it was something we struggled to get to the bottom of.

“There was never a reason for why it was happening. All the tests we did, nothing ever seemed to stand out.

“It was just that the bones were weak, which made it tough.

"It got to the point where every time I was doing the rehab, the first few steps back on the grass, it was always there in the back of my mind.

Sunderland defender Niall Huggins ready to make up for lost time / IMAGO

“I would think: ‘Is this going to happen again?’ And you do start to worry. The years are going by on the contract and you are worrying about it.

“When I did finally start to get fit, it helped so much mentally. But it is still hard to look back on.”

This season has been a very different story for the 22-year-old, with him finally getting a run in the Sunderland team at full-back.

There have been no hints of injury problems, a wonder-goal against Watford and a superb performance last week against Birmingham. He has also been rewarded with a first call-up to the senior Wales squad.

“It literally feels like I’m starting my professional career," Huggins said.

“This is the first year where I can really show what I can do and what level I can play at. To have the call-up to the senior team shows that even more.

“It wasn’t even at the back of my mind, but it felt amazing."

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