Recently, it was claimed that Sunderland had sustained a key injury. But nothing has been heard since.
Sunderland players break for the international fixtures. Though for many in the first-team, it means jetting away on international duty.
Trai Hume will represent Northern Ireland whilst Dan Ballard misses out due to injury. Elsewhere, Chris Mepham is with Wales, and a number of Sunderland youngsters are away with their respective nations and age groups.
One player called up was Jobe Bellingham. Bellingham has impressed in recent weeks, catching the eye with his wonder strike against Derby County at the start of the month.
Bellingham was meant to be representing England’s Elite Development Squad this month, more commonly known as the U20s, but it was revealed that he’s returned to the Academy of Light.
Journalist Matthew Smith claimed on X that Bellingham had pulled out due to injury, then going on to suggest that it could actually be Bellingham being rested.
What’s going on with Jobe Bellingham right now
Since then, nothing has been said or reported on Bellingham, and so it largely seems like fans are in the dark about whether or not he has an injury.
He missed just one Championship game last season and has played in all nine so far this season.
The 19-year-old is not one to easily fatigue or injure, and so whether he’s currently injured or simply being rested remains to be seen.
But if he is injured then it’ll be a headache for Regis Le Bris. It could also mean that Sunderland fans get their first glimpse of deadline day signing Milan Aleksic.
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Could Milan Aleksic debut for Sunderland in the coming weeks
Le Bris has urged patience with Aleksic, who became Kyril Louis-Dreyfus’ most expensive signing when he joined from Radnicki this summer in a £3million deal.
But the 19-year-old central attacking midfielder is yet to feature for the Black Cats, having been an unused substitute in the last five league games.
Le Bris says that finding the right time to offload the Serbian international is proving difficult. But if Bellingham is injured then it could be the perfect time to give Aleksic his debut.
Naturally, Chris Rigg would move into the no.10 role and Alan Browne would come into the middle. But Aleksic could be the option off the bench to add fresh legs to the midfield or the attack.
Right now, it’s unclear what the situation with Bellingham is. But either way, we should soon see Aleksic in action.