Wednesday 23 November 2016 17:11, UK
Jason Denayer says Sunderland team-mate Paddy McNair will find football tough to watch after being ruled out for the season.
McNair, who signed permanently from Manchester United in the summer, is expected to miss the remainder of the Premier League campaign after rupturing his cruciate ligament in Sunderland's 3-0 win over Hull City on Saturday.
On-loan Manchester City defender Denayer has expressed his disbelief as McNair managed to complete the second half of the game, despite being understood to have sustained the injury in the 42nd minute, and has offered his support to the midfielder.
"For a player to stop now until the end of the season is long, it's very difficult," Denayer told Sky Sports News HQ. "He needs to be strong because its going to be long, very long.
"When he sees people play it's going to be difficult, but he needs to be strong and keep working.
"It was very strange when I heard it was going to be so long because he kept playing. I was asking myself how you can be injured so long if you can play a second half? It's sad for him."
Denayer deputised in a defensive-midfield role for Sunderland in the victory over Hull, and with David Moyes' Black Cats dealing with a number of injuries in that area the 21-year-old could take up the position in their next fixture against Liverpool on Saturday.
Despite enjoying his role further forward, Denayer is wary of the threat he will have to deal with when playing against Liverpool's deep-lying forwards Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino.
"Liverpool is a very good team and they lost only one game in the league," said Denayer. "It's going to be a difficult game and everybody knows it. We go there with a positive mind and we're going to do our best.
"They have a very good team, very good players, they have a special way to play.
"They [Coutinho and Firmino] are very good players, very technical. You need to be sharp, you need to be there every moment. It's going to be a big challenge."
Reported Liverpool target Virgil van Dijk partnered Denayer during his time on loan at Celtic, and the young defender has revealed he knew the Southampton man was destined for bigger things when they played together in Scotland.
"He's a very good player," said Denayer. "I enjoyed playing with him because he talks to you and helps you a lot. He's not aggressive, he does his job. He's a very good player and he deserves all what's happened now.
"When he was playing there I already saw it was too easy for him. I was sure he was going to do what he is now."
Denayer hinted he is looking to find stability in his career after a number of loan spells away from Manchester City, admitting "travelling every year is difficult".
And the player has admitted he is finding some home comforts in the north east of England.
"Here is close to Celtic," said Denayer. "It's a little bit the same, like the weather. It's a bit like I go back to Glasgow if I stay here."
Upgrade to Sky Sports now and get 12 months half price. Hurry, offer ends December 4!
