Adnan Januzaj has been ruled out of action for at least six weeks after suffering an ankle injury.
Sunderland’s Adnan Januzaj in action with Tottenham’s Jan Vertonghen
The talented 21-year-old is spending the season on loan in the North East under former United manager David Moyes in a bid to play more Premier League football and prove to Jose Mourinho he has a future at Old Trafford.
But that plan has been derailed by an injury set-back, which will keep Januzaj on the sidelines for some time.
A statement on the Sunderland website said: “Adnan Januzaj has been ruled out for a minimum of six weeks after suffering an ankle injury during Sunderland’s 3-2 defeat to Crystal Palace.
It goes on to say: “In order to assess the extent of the injury the 21-year-old underwent a scan on Tuesday, with the results confirming he suffered ankle ligament damage and now faces an unfortunate spell on the sidelines. A Belgium international, Januzaj will now focus on returning to action as soon as possible.”
Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe celebrates scoring their second goal with Adnan Januzaj
As one door closes, another one opens for Wahbi Khazri who has had to bide his time on the bench after Januzaj was brought to the club for a season loan this summer.
Khazri played a crucial role in helping the Black Cats avoid relegation last season with two important goals against Manchester United and Chelsea, the Tunisian joined the club in January as part of Sam Allardyce’s last gasp attempt to save the club from going down to the Championship.
But the winger is yet to start a game this term, so the injury to Januzaj could be just the opening he needs.
Everton’s Phil Jagielka in action with Sunderland’s Wahbi Khazri
Januzaj has been below par since joining the North East club, he’s certainly shown glimpses of what he’s capable of but the 21-year-old will need to add consistency to his game if he wants to last in the Premier League. He should be the standout player at Sunderland if he wants to force his way into the Manchester United side and he will have to buck his ideas up when he returns to action.
As for Khazri, he may not be the most glamorous of footballers with his wiry and flamboyant style, but he will give 110%, something that this Sunderland side need in abundance if they want to get themselves out of the predicament they’re currently in.
Sunderland manager David Moyes
Although if manager David Moyes wants to see the best of the 25-year-old, maybe starting him could help, the winger has played 240 times in his career at Bastia, Bordeaux and Sunderland – 197 of those have been starts.
Januzaj has failed to live up to his high expectations but has the time come for Khazri to stake his claim in the Sunderland side?
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