Sunderland host Stoke City this weekend, and the Black Cats will need all the help they can get in order to record their first win in six games.
Regis Le Bris has seen his Sunderland side stutter after a brilliant start to the season, with five draws and a defeat in the last few weeks pushing them down the Championship table.
Still, Le Bris has remained positive in the face of this recent ‘struggle’ and it is surely only a matter of time before his team get back to winning ways.
One player who has been sorely missed during this poor run is Dennis Cirkin, with the full-back missing the last three games with a wrist injury. So, is he ready to return now?
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Dennis Cirkin is ready to return for Sunderland
Speaking to the press ahead of this weekend’s action (via the Sunderland YouTube channel), Le Bris discussed the availability of his key man, and had great news for Sunderland fans.
When asked about Cirkin’s recovery status, Le Bris said: “Yes, he is available… We have many options now, we have spoken about the back four, and it is a strength for us, even with injuries and suspensions. He is a great player and if he is ready for us it is a big advantage.”
Cirkin had undergone wrist surgery a fortnight ago, but it sounds like he is now fit and ready to go again this weekend. Whether he starts or not, is a different matter, but one would assume Le Bris will be keen to get the Irishman back in the lineup as soon as possible.
Defensive reshuffle could do Sunderland a world of good
With Cirkin coming back, that gives Le Bris a big decision to make defensively, with his back four very likely to be shuffled quite drastically.
Chris Mepham’s absence will be a blow for Sunderland, with the centre-half suspended after his red card against Sheffield United last week.
But, the return of Cirkin means Trai Hume can return to his preferred role on the right, allowing Luke O’Nien to drop back into the middle alongside Dan Ballard.
| Statistics | Dennis Cirkin 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 15 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 2 |
| Pass completion % | 75.4 |
| Tackles won per 90 | 1.87 |
Making a lot of changes can be disruptive, of course, but sometimes a fresh start can be just what is needed to pull a stagnant team out of a rut.
It will be interesting to see how the defence deal with an aggressive Stoke City side on Saturday, but all four of those players Le Bris is likely to call upon are more than capable of doing what is needed of them.