Dennis Cirkin is set to make his return to action for Sunderland following the international break.

The influential defender has been absent for the Black Cats since the 1-0 defeat to Middlesbrough at the start of the month.

A hamstring issue saw him come off the field after 74 minutes in the team’s loss to their local rivals, which was also Tony Mowbray’s first fixture in charge at the club.

Aji Alese has stepped into the starting lineup in his place and has performed well, including bagging his first goal for Sunderland in the 2-2 draw against Watford.

The 58-year-old manager is happy to see there is a good standard of competition for key places in the squad and has offered an update on when the Irishman will make his return to action.

"Dennis Cirkin was back on the grass [Monday] which was great," said Mowbray, via the Sunderland Echo.

"There is competition because Aji Alese’s performance, in the couple of games he’s played, has been fantastic. 

“It’s all encouraging at the moment.”

Sunderland return to Championship action themselves at the weekend when they face Preston North End on 1 October at the Stadium of Light.

Mowbray has overseen one win, one draw and one loss during his time with the club so far. 

The club is currently 5th in the league table heading into a busy October schedule.

The Verdict

Having Cirkin back will be a big boost for Mowbray, with the defender becoming an important figure on the pitch for this team.

That Alese played well in Cirkin’s place can only be a good thing for the club, with the added competition a big bonus for the team.

Other players may be making their return to injury soon as well, such as Ross Stewart, which bodes well for the squad, especially ahead of such a busy few weeks.

October could be a crucial month for Sunderland, with the team set to play seven times between now and Halloween.