Sunderland's Season Risks Unravelling as Injuries and Set-Piece Reshuffle Pile Pressure on Le Bris
Quiet concern could turn to panic
Sunderland's Europa League trip to Portugal arrives against an underwhelming opening to their Premier League campaign, one featuring a single win, against their fellow strugglers Fulham. With a visit to Bournemouth, who sit 8th, a place and a point below Sunderland, on Sunday, manager Régis Le Bris is expected to rotate his squad for Thursday's away fixture against Torreense.
Context is required. Sunderland's first six league fixtures have come against the present top four - Manchester City, Arsenal, Brighton and Brentford. Nonetheless, quiet concern will segue into downright panic should the next two domestic games - away at Bournemouth and then at home to Leeds - fail to produce at least one win.
Injury and squad worries bite at both ends
Although Sunderland have played well at times this season, the failure to sign a specialist right-winger during the summer has led to Le Bris frequently fielding two natural right-backs in Trai Hume and Thomas Meunier. Hamstring injuries to Brian Brobbey and Dan Ballard have caused problems at both ends of the pitch, while the previously reliable Robin Roefs has suffered a few untypical goalkeeping wobbles.
There is also anxiety that Malick Fofana, the £30m left-winger signed from Lyon on deadline day who is struggling to displace the erratic Nilson Angulo, may be too lightweight for England's top tier.
Set-piece department reshuffled
On Tuesday evening, Sunderland announced that their set-piece coach, James Brayne, had left and would be replaced by Thor Herdal. The 34-year-old arrives from Nordsjælland, where he was head of dead balls and analysis, and has also worked with Denmark's national team.
Travel load managed with Poznan to follow
Given that Sunderland also travel to Poland to face Lech Poznan next Thursday, minimising travel and the attendant fatigue has become a priority. It explains why they will fly straight from Lisbon to Bournemouth on Friday, rather than returning home first.