Huggins delighted to 'make impact' for Wycombe
Niall Huggins (left) began his career at Leeds United before joining Sunderland in 2021
- Published
Wycombe Wanderers full-back Niall Huggins hopes injury problems are now behind him after scoring his first goal for the club.
The Sunderland defender, who has been on loan at Adams Park since the summer, netted the second in a 2-0 home win over AFC Wimbledon after being sent on as a 61st-minute substitute in a more advanced wing-back role.
Huggins suffered a serious knee injury in December 2023 and was allowed out on loan to improve his fitness after playing 45 minutes for Sunderland in an EFL Cup tie against Huddersfield Town in August.
The former Wales Under-21 international has also had injury problems at Wycombe and told BBC Three Counties Radio: "It's been an up and down year so it was good to get on and make an impact.
"I've just had to stay ready for my opportunity, kept my head down, trained hard and I know that when I get the chance I can deliver."
Huggins, 25, has only started two league games for Wycombe and he said he had to resist the temptation to go "all guns blazing" when given chances as a substitute.
"Sometimes when you come on in games you try and force stuff," he added.
"I pride myself with being versatile and being able to play different roles. I'm probably more comfortable playing full-back but I'm happy to do whatever (is needed) on the pitch."
Victory over Wimbledon left The Chairboys 10th in League One, six points outside the play-off places and they now have a long break before their next game away to Northampton Town on 17 January.
Boss Michael Duff admitted both sets of players had looked tired at times, saying: "There was an extra game in this Christmas period that there isn't normally.
"It was never going to be tactical, it was never going to be (about) what formation we picked, it was the championship rounds of a boxing match really because it was the fifth game in such a short space of time - and it was togetherness and quality that was going to win the game."
He added: "Eight points in five games is a really good return given the injuries we've had and the opposition. They'll have the weekend off next weekend which they fully deserve."
Duff hopes to strengthen his squad during the January transfer window, but said: "We need to add but need to be really careful about what we bring in.
"We don't want numbers, we want players that can come in and affect the team. They don't have to be nailed-on starters from the very first minute, but they need to be not fringe players."
