Sunderland currently have eight first-team players on the treatment table.
Sunderland defender John O’Shea has told the Chronicle they are hopeful that the experience of their injured players can help the side when they return.
Sunderland are currently rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table without a win in their first eight games of the season.
Their worst defeat of the campaign so far came over the weekend as fellow strugglers Stoke City comfortably beat them.
Sunderland’s cause has not been aided by a raft of injuries decimating the squad, with eight first-team players currently on the treatment table.
That list includes key men such as Jan Kirchhoff, Lamine Kone and Adnan Januzaj and O’Shea has admitted he is hoping the experience those players have will help the team when they return.
“I think the experience coming back will definitely help us,” he told the Chronicle.
“It is a key element of the Premier League, understanding game knowledge when to slow things down, keep the ball better, rather than rushing things. If we can get that back, it will definitely help us.”
As injuries have hit the squad manager David Moyes has been forced to turn to the club’s youngsters to cover the gaps.
Jordan Pickford has impressed in goal, while the likes of Lyden Gooch, Paddy McNair and Duncan Watmore have all played their part, too.
A relegation battle is not an ideal situation to blood them in and O’Shea admits it has been a tough learning curve.
“They are learning the hard way,” he added.
“Ideally, you want to blood players into the Premier League when the team is confident and doing well. They will realise and are learning the hard way. Everyone has to.”
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