Dennis Cirkin's battle with the lingering effects of his concussion are a worry admits Tony Mowbray - and he insists Sunderland will not try to rush the defender back into action. Cirkin suffered concussion after being knocked unconscious as the left-back headed Sunderland's equaliser in the 1-1 draw at Millwall on February 4.
Sunderland followed the FA's concussion protocols which lay out the procedures that must be followed before a player can return to action, and ten days after he was concussed he was cleared to make his comeback in the Black Cats' 3-0 win at QPR, making a brief appearance as a substitute at Loftus Road. He made another substitute appearance a few days later against Bristol City, and then started the defeat at Rotherham United on February 21 but was substituted after an hour.
The 20-year-old has not been involved since, with Mowbray explaining that Cirkin has been experiencing dizzy spells which have necessitated further scans, although they have come back clear. Cirkin is still getting dizzy spells and that has meant he cannot be involved in full training, although he is able to take part in individual sessions.
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But the fact that, five weeks after suffering the injury, he is still not fully recovered is a concern. "I'm not a medical person - I ask my medical department the same questions you're asking me," said Mowbray.
"It's over a month since the Millwall game, but Dennis saying he is still getting dizzy spells. He's had a scan and it looks pretty clear but if he's telling us he has dizzy spells then he has dizzy spells, and the medical department at the moment don't want him to have contact training.
"He is training on his own, running and shooting balls, but not contact training. That's where Dennis is, and it means he is unavailable for selection at this moment.
"I don't feel I, as head coach, can go 'Dennis, you're not actually injured you've just got a bit of dizziness, you can play'. I wouldn't do that. There's a protocol in place and if it's concussion, he won't be playing.
"Until he joins back in full training and wins some headers and tackles and gets knocked over on his backside, he won't be involved. He needs to do that first, and I'm being governed by the medical department."
Given the increased attention on the damage that can be caused by concussion, the protocols must be strictly adhered to. And while Mowbray wants Cirkin back in his team as quickly as possible, he knows there can be no short-cuts.
He said: "I'll wait until the medical department come into my morning meeting and say 'Dennis is training today, he can do everything'. Once he is doing everything and he has trained for two or three days, I'll ask him how he feels and if he's ready to play and if he's fine then great, but if he says he needs more time then he'll get that.
"We're looking forward to getting him back, though, because he is a very important part of our group, and his position is pretty important for the team with his power and his ability to get up and down that left side."
Sunderland head to Norwich City tomorrow and with Cirkin unavailable and Aji Alese having picked up a thigh injury last weekend which has brought his season to a premature end, Mowbray could be forced to play the versatile Luke O'Nien at left-back.
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