Dennis Cirkin is relishing the prospect to return to first-team motion for Sunderland as he completes a comeback from harm.
Cirkin performed 39 Championship matches final season for the Black Cats, making 33 begins and offering 5 aim involvements.
But the left-back has been out injured for the reason that play-off closing, which Sunderland received 2-1 towards Sheffield United.
He has endured wrist and knee points, watching on from the sidelines as Sunderland have made a superb begin to their first season within the Premier League since 2016-17.
Sunderland journey to Fulham on Saturday, and so they go into the sport simply three factors behind second-place Manchester Metropolis.
“It simply feels nice to be again on the market once more,” Cirkin mentioned, having now featured for Sunderland’s Beneath-21s.
“It’s been a protracted few months and fairly a irritating interval with a few setbacks alongside the best way, so to lastly get again on the pitch and play correct minutes looks like an enormous step ahead.
“I’ve been again coaching with the lads for a short while now and that’s been sensible, however there’s nothing fairly like taking part in a match. The medical staff and workers have been unbelievable with me, managing the restoration rigorously and getting me up to now.
“The plan now could be simply to maintain constructing health and sharpness. I really feel good, and hopefully I can hold progressing over the subsequent few weeks.
“It’s a extremely constructive surroundings to return again into. The lads have been flying and coaching has been prime degree, so I simply need to construct momentum now and be prepared to assist the staff after I’m wanted.”
Sunderland have 19 factors in 11 Premier League video games this season (W5 D4 L2), their finest tally at this stage of a top-flight marketing campaign since 1999-00 (23), and finest by any newly promoted aspect since 2008-09, when Hull Metropolis had 20 from their first 11 video games.
A win right here would make it the most effective begin after 12 video games by a promoted aspect within the competitors (22 pts) since Wigan Athletic in 2005-06 (25).
Who is prepared for the weekend? #FULSUN pic.twitter.com/lBpKuVZuks
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) November 19, 2025
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Fulham – Harry Wilson
Wilson is Fulham’s joint-leading scorer within the league this time period, with two objectives, together with Ryan Sessegnon.
The Wales worldwide is but to help within the division however has created eight possibilities, which ranks third in Fulham’s squad, after Alex Iwobi (20) and Sasa Lukic (13).
Sunderland – Granit Xhaka
Solely Marcos Senesi (19) and Bruno Guimaraes (18) have made extra passes which have damaged the opponent’s defensive position within the Premier League this season than Sunderland’s Xhaka (15).
The Swiss midfielder has created 5 possibilities from line-breaking passes within the competitors in 2025-26, with solely Bruno Fernandes (seven) creating extra.
MATCH PREDICTION: FULHAM WIN
Regardless of Sunderland’s wonderful type, Opta’s supercomputer is predicting that Fulham will take the three factors.
Nevertheless, Fulham have misplaced their final two Premier League dwelling video games towards Sunderland, with this the primary top-flight assembly between the edges since a 4-1 win for the Black Cats in January 2014.
However Sunderland misplaced their final league recreation towards Fulham, a 2-1 loss at Craven Cottage within the Championship in April 2018.
Fulham are unbeaten of their final 10 Premier League video games towards newly promoted opponents (W5 D5), successful their final three in a row – their longest successful run over promoted golf equipment within the division since October 2011.
Sunderland received their final away Premier League recreation towards a London membership 2-1 at Chelsea in October, however the Black Cats haven’t received back-to-back away video games within the capital inside a single season within the competitors since March 2001.
Fulham have earned 91% of their factors within the Premier League this season at Craven Cottage (10/11), the very best dwelling ratio of any aspect within the competitors this time period.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Fulham – 51.6%
Draw – 24.6%
Sunderland – 23.8%
