Niall Huggins: New Wales call-up's fresh start after injury 'nightmare'

Niall Huggins has helped Sunderland reach the Championship play-off places after a strong start to the season

Niall Huggins turns 23 next month but feels like his professional career is only just beginning.

The Sunderland full-back has endured a "nightmare" two years, with career-threatening injuries limiting him to just 16 starts at senior level.

But having impressed this season in the Championship, Huggins has earned a first call-up to the Wales squad and is eager to make up for lost time.

"It literally feels like I'm starting my professional career," he said.

"The last two seasons have been a nightmare. I've only started 16 professional games and I'm nearly 23.

"I've always been confident but the last two years I've struggled to show that. This is the first year where I can really show what I can do and what level I can play at.

"To have the call-up to the senior team shows that even more."

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Huggins, who was born in York, started his career with Leeds United and made one Premier League appearance for the club.

Qualifying to play for Wales thanks to his Bangor-born father, Huggins represented the country at under-21 level during his time at Elland Road.

Then with first-team opportunities limited at Leeds under Marcelo Bielsa, Huggins decided to join Sunderland in 2021 - and that is when the injuries struck.

"The last two years have been horrendous. It was awful," Huggins said.

"When I first joined Sunderland, I suffered an initial stress fracture in my back. That put me out for four or five months.

"It got to the point where every time I was doing the rehab, the first few steps back on the grass, it was always there in the back of my mind: 'Is this going to happen again?'

"The years are going by on the contract and you are worrying about it.

"I had problems with the backs of my knees. It was only at the end of last season that I managed to get fit. Then I had a full, proper off-season which was massive for me.

"When I did finally start to get fit, it helped so much mentally. It is still hard to look back, to be honest.

"We [Sunderland] had a couple of injuries and that has allowed me to slot in. I've started the last 11 games and now I feel the fittest I've ever felt."

Niall Huggins was restricted by injury to just four Sunderland appearances last season

Huggins has flourished since breaking into Sunderland's first team at left-back, putting his experience of playing on the wing earlier in his career to good use with a series of attacking displays.

That was evident when he was nominated for October's Championship goal of the month, after scoring against Watford with a slaloming run and powerful finish into the top corner.

"That was a good way to get my first senior goal," Huggins said.

"It was a rollback to when I was younger and used to play on the wing, even for the [Wales] Under-21s.

"The celebration was emotional, letting everything out after the last two years in front of the fans. It was one of the best days I've had in my life."

Huggins' next aim is to make his senior debut for Wales.

His first call-up has come at a crucial time for Robert Page's side, who will qualify for Euro 2024 if they win in Armenia on Saturday and beat Turkey at home on Tuesday.

Huggins may have to bide his time to play for Wales - with Connor Roberts and Neco Williams well established as first-choice full-backs - but if he does get the chance, it will be a moment to savour.

"It's been a two-month period for me when a lot has changed," Huggins said.

"I've been playing professional football, which I've never done, and within two months I've got the call-up, which is amazing.

"I'm just excited to one day hopefully put on the shirt and play for the country."

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