Alese: It felt great to be back in action for the Black Cats

AJI Alese returned to Sunderland’s first team after two months out and declared, “getting back out there is what I’ve been working for”.

The 23-year-old defender emerged as a 66th-minute substitute in the 0-0 draw with Bristol City, having completed 90 minutes in the U21s against Huddersfield Town last week, which the red and whites won 4-2.

And he played his part in keeping a clean sheet, even though, like everyone else connected with the club, he was frustrated not to win.

Alese joined the Black Cats from West Ham United in 2022, before making 24 senior appearances during his first campaign on Wearside in the Championship.

This season has seen him play a bit part because of injury setbacks, the latest a thigh problem picked up against Ipswich Town in January.

He has recently signed a two-year extension to his contract which will see him stay at the Stadium of Light until 2027.

“Yes, it felt good,” said Alese about his return to action. “I’ve been out a little while now and just wanted to get back because I just love playing football, so getting back out there is something I’ve been working hard for.”

He made a couple of early crunching tackles and smiled: “Yes, if the ball is there to be won then I will always go for it. I won’t shy away from a tackle. I just came on and tried to help the team. Getting 90 minutes in the U21s was good. It was my first 90 minutes since January. I got an assist as well so that was good.

“But yes I feel good, training has been good and I just need to keep pushing from here.”

Sunderland missed a host of chances, and Alese remarked: “It was frustrating, especially watching from the side in the first half.

“When I came on we had a few chances as well. We just need to turn possession and good areas and chances to finishes and we will win games.

“We have kept a clean sheet and we created chances so if we put those away we will win games, it’s as simple as that.”

The Black Cats travel to play Leeds United tonight and

Alese hopes to be included in the starting XI, something he has been tipped to do ahead of the much-criticised Leo Hjelde: “I work hard every day to try and get as many minutes as possible so if I start, if I come off the bench, or I don’t play, whatever to help the team, but of course I want to play,” added Alese.

“In the short-term I want to get back to full fitness, get back to feeling how I felt, what was it, a year, a year and a half ago, pre-injury, to stay fit and keep working.”

Aji Alese