Regis Le Bris has a few Sunderland selection headaches ahead of the game against Millwall this weekend, with several key players unavailable.
Sunderland go into their game at The Den battered and bruised after their last outing against Coventry City.
Not only was it a disappointing result against the Sky Blues, letting slip a two-goal lead at half time, but the game also handed Regis Le Bris two new injury concerns.
Alan Browne and Romaine Mundle are now sidelined for up to eight weeks with Mundle nursing a hamstring injury and Browne a leg fracture.
The Coventry game also saw Patrick Roberts and Trai Hume pick up their fifth yellow cards of the season, meaning they’re now suspended for the Millwall game.
Millwall vs Sunderland team and injury news with 10 ruled out
As ever, it seems, Sunderland have a lengthy injury list. But for the Millwall game there’s also a significant list of suspended players.
Roberts and Hume are suspended for one game and Jobe Bellingham serves the third of a three-game suspension against Millwall this weekend.
Meanwhile, Mundle and Browne join a host of other Sunderland names on the sidelines, all of which aren’t expected to feature until 2025 now.
Sunderland’s injured players are: Ian Poveda, Niall Huggins, Jenson Seelt, Ahmed Abdullahi, Salis Abdul Samed, Browne and Mundle.
On a more positive note, Le Bris says Anthony Patterson is ‘probably’ alright to return to action at The Den, having missed the last four games with a muscle injury.
The Lions meanwhile have an almost fully-fit side for this weekend, with three players doubtful but not ruled out.
Billy Mitchell, Tom Bradshaw, and Adam Mayor are currently fitness concerns for Millwall ahead of their game against Sunderland.
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Forgotten Sunderland duo poised for rare outing vs Millwall
Given the number of injuries, we could see some lesser-seen faces given a chance to impress Le Bris and the Sunderland faithful this weekend.
And with Mundle and Roberts sidelined, there could be a very unfamiliar attacking line up with fans as yet unsure on how the front-line might look.
Tommy Watson may yet earn his second Championship start of the season. But after their midweek exclusion from the U21s, exiled duo Abdoullah Ba and Adil Aouchiche are expected to feature.
In his Thursday presser, Le Bris suggested the pair could make a rare appearance for the Black Cats this weekend.
He said: “They are in the first-team group. They were a little bit far from the main selection, but they trained properly, they played good with the U21s, and their mindsets are very good.”
Kick off is at 3pm on Saturday afternoon.