Sunderland defender Trai Hume is a huge fan favourite at the Stadium of Light, and since his arrival in 2022, he’s been on of the club’s most consistent players.
Trai Hume arrived on Wearside for just £200,000 and has since made 91 total appearances for the Black Cats, with last season being his most impressive.
The Northern Ireland international topped the Championship roster for tackles, with the likes of Aston Villa showing an interest in Hume following his strong season in the second tier.
This time round, Hume has played every minute of Championship football under Regis Le Bris. But he’s picked up four yellow cards already.
Hume is now one yellow card away from a one-game suspension in the league and so he’s walking a tightrope, with his unavailability bound to be a headache for Le Bris.
Sunderland loaned out Timothee Pembele during the summer and currently have Aji Alese injured, meaning that Le Bris would have to field either a makeshift right-back in Hume’s absence, or one from the youth team.
Trai Hume discusses his Sunderland suspension tightrope
Speaking after the game v Watford, Hume discussed his suspension situation, and he made one comment that might well concern Le Bris.
Hume told Total Sport: “I know I’m on four yellows. It’s probably my fault to be honest, I’ve had a few rash challenges.
“But I need to manage myself. I don’t want to get booked again/ I’ll have to do my best to not get booked because I want to stay in the team and play as many games as possible.”
Hume then explained that he may be less inclined to go into 50/50s in fear of picking up another yellow card.
He said: “I’ll try my best not to change. But if there’s a challenge there that I think might be a bit rough, I might hold myself back a wee bit because if I do get that yellow, I’ll be suspended for a game.”
After 19 games, the one-game suspension for five yellow cards for the season up to that point is no longer valid.
Why is Trai Hume comment a worry for Regis Le Bris
Hume’s USP as a footballer is his tackling ability. Right now though, he’s not playing his full game, as he says in the comments above.
Whilst losing Hume for a game would be a blow, him receiving a fifth yellow card would allow him to come back and play at his fullest intensity.
Le Bris might have to be cunning here and suggest that Hume gets himself in a yellow card that comes before a more winnable game for Sunderland.
Obviously, no game in the Championship is ‘winnable’, but some are certainly easier than others.