After the raft of arrivals at Sunderland this summer, it has left a number of players with little/no prospects of first-team football this season.
But one of these players looks set to be offered a lifeline, albeit in League One.
Wycombe Wanderers Looking To Sign Niall Huggins On Loan
According to Football League World, Wycombe Wanderers are in negotiations with Sunderland over an ambitious loan move for right-back Niall Huggins.
The 24-year-old came through the youth ranks with Leeds United. He made one senior appearance for the Whites before moving to Sunderland in August 2021.
Unfortunately, his time with the Black Cats has not gone according to plan.
Over a four-year stint in the Northeast, the defender has made just 29 appearances. The York-born man initially struggled to establish himself in the first team before being blighted by a series of injuries.
Huggins made four appearances in the 2020/21 season as Sunderland won promotion from the third tier, and went on to make a further four appearances in their first season in the Championship.
The 2023/24 campaign showed promise, as he made 20 appearances in all competitions, scoring his first goal in men’s football. The defender also received his maiden call-up for the Welsh national side, though he failed to make an appearance for the Dragons.
Last season, Huggins was unable to make a single appearance, largely due to a serious knee issue.
But, he featured in four of the Black Cats’ preseason games, two of which he started, and he recently started against Huddersfield Town in the Carabao Cup.
Is This A Good Move For Both Player And Club?
Huggins’ career is a hard one to analyse, given how few senior games he has played.
During the one stint in which he was given first-team opportunities and managed to stay fit, he looked more than good enough for the Championship. But this was a fairly brief period of time, and he has never been tested over the course of an entire season.
Wycombe manager Mike Dodds will be someone that Huggins knows and trusts, as they have previously worked together at Sunderland. This will surely play a big role for the 24-year-old, who knows that his career will be hanging in the balance if he fails to get regular minutes under his belt this season.
The Chairboys are currently struggling in the third tier. The loss of star frontman Richard Kone has understandably caused a drop in their performance levels, but to a much larger extent than was perhaps expected.
Dodds’ men currently sit in 22nd place in League One and are one of just three sides to have not picked up a win in the third tier.
Huggins should be able to offer an increased level of dynamism down either flank, which will help Wycombe turn their large amounts of possession into goals.
The 24-year-old would certainly be somewhat of a wildcard signing given his injury record. But, he could also be the player to help kickstart Wycombe’s rise up the table.
