Sunderland’s FA Cup defeat to Stoke City last weekend not only saw them crash out of the competition at the first hurdle, but it also saw Aji Alese limp off with an injury.
In fairness, Sunderland fans won’t mind the FA Cup exit all that much, given the fact the Black Cats are firmly focused on gaining promotion to the Premier League this season.
Regis Le Bris went with a strong lineup for the Stoke game, but had to switch things up midway through the game after Aji Alese suffered an injury in the 60th minute.
Youngster Zak Johnson stepped in for the rest of the game there, but he has since departed on loan for Notts County, so what state does this injury leave the Sunderland squad in for the remainder of the season?
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Aji Alese will be out for a long time, he requires surgery
Speaking to the press (via the Sunderland YouTube channel) ahead of the all-important Burnley game on Friday night, the Sunderland manager was asked about the condition of Alese in the fallout of the Stoke clash.
Le Bris had very few words to say on the matter, but what he did say implies that we may not see Alese for quite some time.
When asked for an update, Le Bris said: “We are not really sure yet. I don’t have a full update, it all depends on the surgery and the results after, but it should be a long [absence].”
The fact Alese is undergoing surgery says all we need to know about the severity of the issue, and hopefully the 23-year-old can have a speedy recovery and return before the end of the season.
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Regis Le Bris says Sunderland cannot afford to lose one more defender
Le Bris will certainly be hoping for Alese’s quick return, and, discussing the matter further (via the Northern Echo), the Frenchman suggested Sunderland cannot cope with any more injuries to the backline this season.
“It [defence] was a part of the squad where we felt comfortable,” said Le Bris. “But with one less player, probably for a couple of months or so, it will be more difficult. It’s still a question of balance and opportunities though. At the moment, I think we have six good players ready to play.”
Hinting at possible January additions to cover the loss, he added: “That is a good situation, but it is probably the limit. With one less, it would be a problem, so we will see what happens and then we will decide.”
As things stand, it would seem Sunderland’s next transfer priority is a striker, but it will be interesting to see whether the club begins to look for some defensive cover now.