Major blow for Regis Le Bris as ‘exceptional’ Sunderland star could miss Championship play-off final
Sunderland Face Sheffield United in High-Stakes Championship Play-Off Final – Mundle a Major Doubt
Sunderland are set to take on Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final this Saturday, but head coach Régis Le Bris could be forced to make a tough call on one of his key players.
It’s been an impressive debut season for Le Bris at the helm, guiding Sunderland to the play-offs despite a rocky end to the regular campaign. The Black Cats snapped a five-game losing streak in dramatic fashion, as Dan Ballard’s 122nd-minute goal against Coventry City sent the Stadium of Light into frenzy and secured their place in the final.
With an estimated £240 million promotion windfall at stake, Sheffield United head into the Wembley clash as favourites. The Blades stormed past Bristol City 6-0 on aggregate and wrapped up the season 14 points ahead of Sunderland in the standings. Now, an injury concern could tilt the odds even further in Sheffield’s favour.
Mundle’s Fitness a Major Concern
Sunderland winger Romaine Mundle is in a race against time to be fit for the final. The talented 22-year-old returned from a month-long layoff due to a hamstring injury to play 25 minutes of extra time against Coventry. However, he hasn’t trained with the squad since that game, raising doubts over his availability.
Mundle had missed Sunderland’s last six regular-season fixtures with his second hamstring setback of the campaign. Although he made a noticeable impact off the bench midweek, his recovery since has been far from ideal. If he’s unavailable, Enzo Le Fée is expected to retain his place on the left wing.
A Wembley Dream at Risk
Mundle, who notched five goals and two assists in 22 league appearances this season, has been a standout when fit. Former Sunderland star Jack Clarke previously described him as “exceptional,” and the winger’s pace and creativity could be a crucial factor in breaking down a resilient Sheffield United defence.
Speaking ahead of the final, Mundle shared his excitement about the potential opportunity to play at Wembley:
“I’ve not played there before, but whether you’re from London or not, it’s a dream for many players to step out at Wembley—and mine could come true on Saturday.”
“It would mean everything to win there, especially after the setbacks I’ve had this season. But most importantly, it would be for the club and the fans. This club deserves to be back in the Premier League, and I hope we can repay the supporters.”
Sunderland fans will be hopeful that Mundle can recover in time to play a part in the biggest match of their season.
