After his injury, Kristjaan Speakman described the “honest chat” he had with a Sunderland star.
Aji Alese, Niall Huggins, Dennis Cirkin, Jenson Seelt, Corry Evans, Elliot Embleton, Jack Clarke, Patrick Roberts, Bradley Dack, and Nazariy Rusyn are just a few of the Sunderland players who have missed time due to injury this season.
Alese, Dack, and Evans’ return following the international break has given the Black Cats hope, but their worries elsewhere have only grown.
Not only did Mike Dodds reveal yesterday that Seelt will spend up to nine months in the treatment room, but Sunderland also learned that Jay Matete would be returning from his Oxford United loan early.
Prior to needing knee surgery and playing just one game off the bench in the first half of the season, the midfield player had hoped to compete for a spot in the starting lineup during the preseason.
Following his transfer to Oxford in January, Matete was only able to make six appearances before his injury issues reappeared.
Speakman and Jay Matete’s “honest chat”
The 23-year-old will return to the Academy of Light to finish his recuperation, Sunderland said Tuesday, before he resumes training in preparation for the summer preseason.
After speaking with Matete for a “honest chat,” Kristjaan Speakman has now revealed that Matete will have surgery for the second time in a year.
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“Jay has had to negotiate a tremendously trying season and after working hard to return to fitness in December, this news comes as a terrible blow,” the sporting director stated in a statement to the club.
We had an open discussion after evaluating his injury earlier this week and decided that surgery now would give him the best chance of recovering in the long run. The fact that Jay is already committed to returning before the preseason and having an effect speaks volumes about his character, and we are excited to provide him with our fullest support during that process.
Jay Matete appeared to have a bright future not too long ago. He had recently assisted Plymouth Argyle in winning promotion, a year after achieving the same feat with the Black Cats.
For Matete, what does this mean?
Since Matete turned 23 last month, I don’t think he was given enough opportunities at the Stadium of Light, and he still has plenty of time to realize his potential and grow as a player.
But these injury issues are a serious concern that could seriously jeopardize his hopes of being a regular Wearside football player.
However, if the midfield player can recover quickly this summer, I’d want to see him given the chance to shine under our new management.
While Matete’s success as a defensive midfielder at Plymouth implies he may do the same for us and possibly step in for his veteran partner, Corry Evans’ future is still unknown.
Considering our midfield woes this season, I don’t think we should write him off completely. However, we might have to give up if his injuries worsen.
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