Cirkin relishing Sunderland return after long injury lay-off

Dennis Cirkin is relishing the chance to return to first-team action for Sunderland as he completes a comeback from injury.

Cirkin played 39 Championship matches last season for the Black Cats, making 33 starts and providing five goal involvements.

Yet the left-back has been out injured since the play-off final, which Sunderland won 2-1 against Sheffield United.

He has endured wrist and knee issues, watching on from the sidelines as Sunderland have made a brilliant start to their first season in the Premier League since 2016-17.

Sunderland travel to Fulham on Saturday, and they go into the game just three points behind second-place Manchester City.

"It just feels great to be back out there again," Cirkin said, having now featured for Sunderland's Under-21s.

"It’s been a long few months and quite a frustrating period with a couple of setbacks along the way, so to finally get back on the pitch and play proper minutes feels like a big step forward.

"I’ve been back training with the lads for a little while now and that’s been brilliant, but there’s nothing quite like playing a match. The medical team and staff have been fantastic with me, managing the recovery carefully and getting me to this point.

"The plan now is just to keep building fitness and sharpness. I feel good, and hopefully I can keep progressing over the next few weeks.

"It’s a really positive environment to come back into. The lads have been flying and training has been top level, so I just want to build momentum now and be ready to help the team when I’m needed."

Sunderland have 19 points in 11 Premier League games this season (W5 D4 L2), their best tally at this stage of a top-flight campaign since 1999-00 (23), and best by any newly promoted side since 2008-09, when Hull City had 20 from their first 11 games.

A win here would make it the best start after 12 games by a promoted side in the competition (22 pts) since Wigan Athletic in 2005-06 (25).

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Fulham – Harry Wilson

Wilson is Fulham's joint-leading scorer in the league this term, with two goals, along with Ryan Sessegnon.

The Wales international is yet to assist in the division but has created eight chances, which ranks third in Fulham's squad, after Alex Iwobi (20) and Sasa Lukic (13).

Sunderland – Granit Xhaka

Only Marcos Senesi (19) and Bruno Guimaraes (18) have made more passes that have broken the opponent’s defensive line in the Premier League this season than Sunderland’s Xhaka (15).

The Swiss midfielder has created five chances from line-breaking passes in the competition in 2025-26, with only Bruno Fernandes (seven) creating more.

MATCH PREDICTION: FULHAM WIN

Despite Sunderland's fine form, Opta's supercomputer is predicting that Fulham will take the three points.

However, Fulham have lost their last two Premier League home games against Sunderland, with this the first top-flight meeting between the sides since a 4-1 win for the Black Cats in January 2014.

But Sunderland lost their last league game against Fulham, a 2-1 loss at Craven Cottage in the Championship in April 2018. 

Fulham are unbeaten in their last 10 Premier League games against newly promoted opponents (W5 D5), winning their last three in a row – their longest winning run over promoted clubs in the division since October 2011.

Sunderland won their last away Premier League game against a London club 2-1 at Chelsea in October, but the Black Cats have not won back-to-back away games in the capital within a single season in the competition since March 2001.

Fulham have earned 91% of their points in the Premier League this season at Craven Cottage (10/11), the highest home ratio of any side in the competition this term. 

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Fulham – 51.6%

Draw – 24.6%

Sunderland – 23.8%