Sunderland have been handed a double injury blow with news that Enzo Le Fee and Dan Ballard will be missing for up to six and eight weeks respectively.
Head coach Regis Le Bris revealed Le Fee would be out for “four to six weeks” while centre-back Ballard would be “six to eight weeks” both with hamstring injuries.
Le Fee’s absence in particular is a difficult one for Le Bris to swallow as the creative midfielder was coming into his own and had just got himself fully match fit. Ballard too has been playing well but at least Chris Mepham is a more-than-adequate replacement and there is other defensive cover too.
Ahead of Friday night’s Championship clash at Sheffield Wednesday, Le Bris also confirmed forward Ahmed Abdullahi is still not ready but Tommy Watson will be available in a week’s time.
Asked if it was a significant blow to lose Le Fee and Ballard, Le Bris nodded with a sigh: “Yes it is. But Tommy [Watson] was in a full session [Thursday] which is positive for next week. He won’t be available for this game but after that he will be okay.
“Ahmed is still suffering with his previous injury so it’s not really solved. It’s not a bad issue but he’s not available.”
One or two players such as Jobe Bellingham and Patrick Roberts are close to suspensions and Le Bris said: “We are ready for that. Browny [Alan Browne] is available, Tommy is available and Romaine [Mundle] is available. We have new players who have had important injuries and who are now fresh to go again.”
Fatigue has played a part in recent games. Sunderland have had a tough spell and some exhausting games as they look to keep the pressure on the top two in the Championship.
When questioned about analysing this aspect Le Bris added: “I think our main focus is all about football output rather than the data. This stage of the season is important and we did well so far so we have to remind ourselves the team is in a good place but at the same time we can struggle in a period.
“We were good at Leeds for example I think. It wasn’t our best performance against Hull and at the same time it wasn’t a disaster as well.
“We could have won but sometimes you can make mistakes and be punished and next game we can make the same mistake and we won’t be punished.”
Le Bris now could make more changes than the enforced ones to his starting XI as he looks to freshen his side up for the promotion push.
He explained: “It’s important to manage the squad and finish the season with good and positive momentum. We have had many injuries and many suspensions as well so it wasn’t possible but now we will have this opportunity so we need the full squad.
“The 35th game, the 36th, it’s tough for everyone. We are at the wall of a marathon and we are at that stage and we have to manage it properly. We know it’s normal to have fatigue but at the same time it has created the conditions to manage the squad but also involve the players in their recovery process and their ambition.
“And at the same time if you are tired you have to maintain the level. Maybe in a different way. Maybe to be smarter, maybe our way of managing the game. It’s a new condition but it is useful for our ambition.”
View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sunderland-rocked-double-injury-setback-31095445
