After taking another step towards peak fitness, Paddy McNair is determined to keep fit and help his team-mates in 2018.
The Northern Ireland international missed almost a year due to a knee injury before returning to action in November, but, as so often happens, he picked up another minor injury and has missed the last month.
Chris Coleman’s squad has been decimated by injury after injury, but McNair provided the Black Cats with a much-needed boost on Saturday as he came off the bench against Barnsley.
And speaking to safc.com, McNair explained why he’s keen to push forward after a difficult spell on the sidelines and poor defeat against the Tykes.
“We never really got going,” admitted the midfielder after his return to action.
“They scored as soon as we came back out for the second-half and that really takes the wind out of your sails, so it was an uphill battle from then on and we just couldn’t find an equaliser.”
He continued: “I came back for three or four games and then I’ve missed the last month because of my groin, but it’s a New Year and hopefully I can put these injuries behind me.
“I wasn’t expecting to come on so soon, of course, but I was happy to get back on the pitch and continue building my fitness, and as the games go on I’m sure I can help the team.
“We have a few injuries so it would be good to get them back [before league football resumes], but we’ll go into the Boro game hoping to win it.
“It’s a cup game and a derby up here so I can’t wait to play in that one.”