Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris will have several difficult decisions to make regarding team selection this weekend.
Sunderland will face off against Cardiff City this weekend, as Regis Le Bris’ side will hope to make it two wins on the bounce in the Championship.
The win on the road against Sheffield Wednesday saw several bold decisions by the Sunderland boss, as Eliezer Mayenda replaced Wilson Isidor, a decision that fully paid off. Mayenda’s first goal proved to be controversial, and former Sheffield Wednesday man Clinton Morrison said that the goal should have been disallowed.
The game also saw Chris Rigg dropped after fans believed that he needed a rest, whilst Dennis Cirkin was replaced by Leo Hjelde.
After such a bold team selection against Sheffield Wednesday, fans will be keen to see whether the Frenchman will stick or twist when it comes to his team ahead of the clash with Cardiff City. Here are the absences that Le Bris will have to deal with this weekend…
Sunderland injury news and unavailabilities ahead of Cardiff City clash
The injury list looks bleak for Sunderland, who were hit with a triple injury blow last week, with Enzo Le Fee and Dan Ballard both out for six to eight weeks, and Jayden Danns reportedly missing the rest of the season.
However, the Black Cats have been bolstered with the returns of Romaine Mundle, Alan Browne, and Leo Hjelde, who all started in the 2-1 victory against Sheffield Wednesday, and will be in contention to start again in Le Bris’ side.
The win against the Owls doesn’t look to have aggravated any new injuries for Le Bris to deal with.
How Regis Le Bris could set his Black Cats side up against Cardiff City
Despite a shaky moment against Sheffield Wednesday, it is likely that Anthony Patterson will once again start in-between the sticks, whilst Le Bris will likely name an unchanged defence of Trai Hume and Hjelde on either side of centre-back partners Chris Mepham and Luke O’Nien.
As for the midfield, Rigg’s exclusion from the starting 11 against the Owls was likely only temporary, and it will be expected that he returns to the side in place of Browne, whilst Jobe Bellingham and Dan Neil will join him in the centre of the park.
With Mundle and Patrick Roberts continuing on the wings, Le Bris will have a difficult decision surrounding his striker choice, either the ‘in-form’ Isidor, or the goalscorer at Sheffield Wednesday, Mayenda. Scoring a crucial brace must surely make the Spaniard undroppable, and he will likely lead the line for the Black Cats.