He sustained a cruciate knee ligament injury in a match against Wigan Athletic, which kept him out for six months. He made his comeback from injury in November 2007. After Sunderland returned to the Premiership Whitehead found himself playing as a right back, although this was ended when manager Roy Keane signed right backs Phil Bardsley and Pascal Chimbonda for Sunderland, allowing Whitehead to move back into central midfield. He left Sunderland in August 2009 after making 200 appearances for the Black Cats.
Pascal Chimbonda
Whitehead