Sunderland have a handful of players unavailable for their upcoming Championship clash at Millwall, and it’ll give Regis Le Bris a real team selection headache.
Going into most games this season, Regis Le Bris has selected the same Sunderland XI. It’s clear that he knows his best starting side but for the game against Millwall after this November international break, there’ll be changes.
They’re enforced changes for the Black Cats who have a number of players either injured or suspended for the game.
The Sunderland players suspended for Millwall are Jobe Bellingham, Trai Hume, and Patrick Roberts, whilst Romaine Mundle is a fresh injury concern for Sunderland after limping of against Coventry City before the international break, along with Alan Browne.
Here are the Sunderland changes that Le Bris may have to make for the upcoming game against Millwall at The Den…
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Tommy Watson in for Romaine Mundle
During this international break, Mundle shared a picture of himself on holiday as the Sunderland first-team players trained, suggesting that he’s been given time off for a probable injury.
Assuming that he can’t feature against Millwall, Tommy Watson would be the most like for like change Le Bris could make.
He’s experimented with Aaron Connolly on the left, but to no avail so far, and with Wilson Isidor on the left as well, though he’s much more impactful in the middle.
Leo Hjelde comes into the Sunderland XI
Norwegian defender Leo Hjelde may get a rare chance against Millwall given Hume’s suspension.
But it’ll be in an unfamiliar right-back position given the lack of right-back options currently at Sunderland.
Unless Aji Alese has made a speedy recovery during this month’s break and is fit to start against Millwall, Hjelde coming in on the right for Hume seems like the likeliest outcome.
Forgotten Sunderland man could be set for rare start
Providing Le Bris keeps Isidor in the middle and plays Watson in his favoured left-sided position, there’ll be a lesser-seen name starting on the right.
Le Bris’ main option for this position, as it stands, is Nazariy Rusyn. The Ukrainian is yet to start in the Championship this season but has made six substitute appearances, albeit having not featured in the league since the start of October.
Milan Aleksic may be thrown into the deep end for Sunderland
Then in the centre of midfield, assuming that Browne can’t play which isn’t for certain yet, Le Bris may have to give deadline day signing Milan Aleksic his first appearance, and his first start at The Den.
Dan Neil and Chris Rigg surely start, with Rigg either alongside Neil or in the no.10 role, leaving the other central midfield position open for Aleksic to possibly come in.
It would be a huge ask for Aleksic to debut at Millwall. Alternatively, Le Bris could deploy Isidor or Connolly in the no.10 role, and the other as the no.9, which may be the more likely tactic.
Either way, a debut for Aleksic at Millwall feels likely.