Sunderland officials are monitoring Granit Xhaka’s fitness while he serves on international duty with Switzerland. Reports state the veteran midfielder missed recent full training sessions in Oslo. Switzerland will face Norway in a friendly soon, but Xhaka stayed on the sidelines. (Via Sport Witness)
Sunderland officials are monitoring Granit Xhaka’s fitness in international break
The 33-year-old captain played in a 4-3 loss to Germany earlier this week. However, Swiss manager Murat Yakin chose to remove him from the starting lineup for the next match. Yakin told Blick that high workloads and a lingering physical issue forced this decision. The staff must manage his recovery carefully.
This news worries those on Wearside. The player already missed five matches this year with a stubborn ankle injury. Xhaka claimed his half-time exit against Germany was a tactical plan, not a new injury. Still, the need for load management proves his fitness is fragile. Switzerland are playing it safe. They are prioritising his long-term health over a friendly match. Now, the Black Cats must wait. They need their leader back at the Stadium of Light for the final Premier League push.
Are Sunderland too reliant on an ageing anchor?
The current situation shows how much the team lean on Xhaka. At 33, he provides a defensive shield that younger players like Chris Rigg or Dan Neil cannot match yet. Xhaka sets the rhythm for Sunderland. However, his recent ankle and Achilles problems show the risk of building a midfield around a veteran. He helped secure a huge 2-1 win over Newcastle United just days ago, but his struggle to train for Switzerland suggests he is playing through real pain.
Xhaka’s pinpoint passing and smart positioning remain his best traits. These skills let Sunderland control the game against aggressive teams, but his slowing pace and constant load issues are now clear weaknesses. Sunderland took a big gamble by making him captain. They are walking a fine line. One bad training session could end his season. If the club keep demanding 90 minutes every week, they risk a total physical breakdown. That would leave their midfield without a leader.
