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Sunderland’s manager Regis Le Bris is facing potential injury setbacks for two key players as the international break commences. The Championship is pausing for two weeks, with Sunderland currently sitting atop the league table.
Under Le Bris’s guidance, Sunderland has had an impressive start to the season, losing only two of their first nine matches and securing six victories. They’re tied on points with Sheffield United, who occupy second place.
In their most recent fixture, Sunderland drew 2-2 with Leeds United, thanks to a last-minute error by Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier. However, Sunderland’s recent form has been somewhat inconsistent, with two wins and two losses in their last five games.
Le Bris will likely use this break to focus on training and allow his squad some rest, considering the long season ahead.
The injury concerns revolve around Dan Ballard and Jobe Bellingham. Ballard, who has missed Sunderland’s last three matches due to injury, was surprisingly included in Northern Ireland’s squad for their upcoming Nations League fixtures. However, the BBC reports that Ballard has now been ruled out of these games due to an ankle injury.
Bellingham, who is part of England’s U20 squad, has also withdrawn from international duty. Journalist Matthew Smith reported this on social media, suggesting that Bellingham’s withdrawal might be precautionary, given that he played the full 90 minutes in the recent match against Leeds.
The potential absence of Bellingham is particularly concerning for Le Bris. The 19-year-old has been excelling in the number 10 role, and finding a suitable replacement could prove challenging. Le Bris might need to consider reshuffling his team, possibly moving Chris Rigg into that position or giving an unexpected start to Milan Aleksic.
Sunderland’s next match is an away fixture against Hull City on October 20th, following the international break. Le Bris will be hoping for positive news regarding both players’ fitness as he prepares for this upcoming challenge.
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