Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris has given an update on the injury issues affecting one ‘talented’ player.
Sunderland will face Cardiff City this weekend, where they will hope to make it two wins on the bounce after the recent victory against Sheffield Wednesday.
Unfortunately for Black Cats boss Regis Le Bris, Sunderland have selection issues going into the game, with several injuries plaguing the side.
One man certain to be absent from the clash is January statement signing Enzo Le Fee, who came off in the defeat to Hull City through injury, as did Dan Ballard.
The injury issues appear to be stacking up for the Sunderland boss, with him noting another ‘talented’ man set for a further spell on the sidelines.
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Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris outlines Ian Poveda injury worries as he notes training changes
Life on Wearside for Colombian international Ian Poevda has been difficult, having notched just a total of 81 minutes of action in all competitions.
The Black Cats winger arrived at the Stadium of Light with a colourful injury record, and it appears as though he will endure more time out of the side, having racked up many issues during his short spell at the club already.
In the pre-match press conference ahead of the clash with Cardiff City, Sunderland boss Le Bris said: “We have to wait for him. I don’t know exactly what the time to return is… probably three or four weeks, maybe more. Yes, it is [frustrating] because we know that he’s talented as a winger with the ability to dribble and create something out of nothing.”
Amid the injury concerns for the Sunderland squad, Le Bris also spoke about ‘fatigue’ settling into the players.
“We reduced intensity… we want to manage fatigue, not just in the legs but the head, the brain too. It’s essential for the football we want to play. It’s tough, because we love football, but it’s all about the connection for the game, and reinforcing our confidence. We can do many things very well, but we have to make adjustments to fix our weaknesses.”
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Will we ever see the best of Ian Poveda
Despite his injury issues, Poveda arrived on Wearside with plenty of promise.
From notching appearances with his country Colombia, to Man City boss Pep Guardiola calling Poveda ‘incredible’, it is clear that his ability could see him be a top-end Championship player on his day, as seen during his short spell on loan last season at Sheffield Wednesday.
Ultimately, it was always a bold decision to sign Poveda, knowing the troubles he has suffered with when it comes to injuries in the past. Unluckily for Sunderland, and Poevda, he just hasn’t been able to notch enough game time to really get any consistency, and even if he was to return towards the back end of the season, he will find himself low down the pecking order of Le Bris’ attacking options.