“He’s available now to play”- “Sunderland Boss Drops Major Injury Bombshell and Reveals the Key Player Set to Return to the Squad
Sunderland head coach Régis Le Bris has provided a comprehensive injury update ahead of their upcoming match against Norwich City.
Le Bris confirmed that Salis Abdul Samed could make his return to the squad for the Black Cats’ home game against Swansea City this weekend.
However, the team has faced another setback, with Romaine Mundle now sidelined due to a hamstring injury. Sunderland is consulting with specialists to determine the length of his absence.
Unfortunately, Samed will not be available for Tuesday’s match at Norwich, although he has resumed training this week.
Le Bris also revealed that Leo Hjelde is in contention to start after his strong performance off the bench in the recent match against West Brom.
On the other hand, Enzo Le Fée is not yet fit to start and will likely remain a substitute for the time being.
“Leo is now available to start, and we have Enzo, but he will only play a limited role for now,” Le Bris explained.
“Salis trained with us this morning, so he should be ready for the Swansea match. We’re gradually getting two or three players back, but unfortunately, we’ve now lost Romaine.
If possible, we want to manage the squad so that players can handle one or one-and-a-half games per week, but that’s not always feasible.”
Le Bris added that Dan and Dennis are expected to need around two more weeks to recover. As for Ian Poveda, Le Bris remains uncertain, but he hopes Poveda may be available by early May.
Aji Alese and Niall Huggins remain long-term absentees, while Ahmed Abdullahi and Jenson Seelt continue their recovery from long-term injuries.
Jayden Danns has yet to join the squad as a back issue discovered during his medical on deadline day requires an extended period of rest and rehabilitation.
With Mundle now out of action, Le Bris addressed the importance of Tommy Watson for the rest of the season.
Despite agreeing to a summer move to Brighton, Le Bris emphasized that Watson remains an integral part of the squad.
“Last weekend’s decision was purely tactical for the game,” Le Bris said. “Tommy is available and fully committed to the team. He is a Sunderland player and is focused on helping us get promoted. I have no concerns about his motivation, and I’m confident in using him as a left winger, right winger, or in other positions until the end of the season.”
