Sunderland suffered a 3-2 loss to Plymouth Argyle on Saturday afternoon.
Ian Poveda missed the match due to a thigh injury, but Sunderland is optimistic that he won’t be out for long. Poveda, who picked up the injury during Sunderland U21s’ 2-2 draw with Athletic de Bilbao B earlier in the week, was a surprise omission from the squad. Régis Le Bris is hopeful that Poveda will be fit for next weekend’s clash against Middlesbrough at the Stadium of Light.
“He felt some minor discomfort in his thigh, so he was unavailable, but we don’t believe it’s a serious issue,” Le Bris explained.
Poveda’s absence led to the inclusion of academy striker Trey Ogunsuyi in the matchday squad, while Adil Aouchiche and Abdoullah Ba were again left out.
Additionally, Sunderland are awaiting news on Dan Ballard, who was seen leaving the pitch at Plymouth with the help of two physios, and later exited on crutches and in a brace. Le Bris stated that it’s too early to assess the severity of Ballard’s injury.
Salis Abdul Samed’s availability for the Middlesbrough game is also in question. He has not yet fully rejoined his teammates in training due to a minor issue. According to Le Bris, Samed is expected to be out for seven to ten days, which might make him unavailable for next Saturday’s fixture.
