Sunderland have utilised a number of options in wide positions so far this season.

Sunderland legend Kevin Phillips has offered his opinion on the club’s ongoing winger conundrum, suggesting that, “if they’re both fit”, Regis Le Bris should start Chemsdine Talbi and Bertrand Traore.

The Black Cats have rotated through a number of options in wide areas this season, with the likes of Talbi, Traore, Romaine Mundle, Enzo Le Fée, Trai Hume, Nilson Angulo, Jocelin Ta Bi, Eliezer Mayenda, and January departure Simon Adingra all deployed on the flanks at various points.

More recently, however, Sunderland’s options have been heavily limited by a spate of injuries, with Traore still working his way back to fitness, and Mundle and Ta Bi both picking up fresh complaints during Sunday’s 3-1 defeat at the hands of Fulham.

Explaining the situation during a press conference on Thursday, Le Bris said: “It might be a difficult injury for Romaine. He might be out for a few weeks, maybe a month, maybe more. We still have some assessments to make but we'll have a clearer picture soon. It's still early to say if it's exactly the same injury he's had before, but the early indications are it is not positive.

"Jocelin might be in the same position as Romaine for a different injury, he might need surgery. It's still a bit early but a few weeks, month... [maybe more]. It was really unlucky because it was a small kick, but really precise on his weakest point. Totally unlucky, to be fair. Yes, but he's well-connected with his teammates, so I'm not too worried, to be fair. He's a bit shy, like a new player, I believe, but already well-connected with his teammates. He speaks a bit of English now, and his French is very good, so in the dressing room it's easy to manage connections with his teammates.”

In better news, however, Traore did resume training as planned this week, and as such, could yet be involved at Bournemouth on Saturday lunchtime. Le Bris stated: "Bertrand is back in full training, so that's good news for us.”

The Echo has launched a new WhatsApp SAFC Channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates direct to your phone. Simply click this link to join our SAFC WhatsApp channel.

What has Kevin Phillips said about Sunderland’s winger situation?

And for his part, Phillips is of the opinion that the Burkina Faso international, alongside Talbi, should be assured of a starting berth for Sunderland moving forwards. Speaking exclusively to The Echo, courtesy of BestBettingSites, he said: “Overall, this season, if they’re both fit, I think you’d probably have to say Talbi and Traore [should start on the wings].

“Obviously, Traore was injured after the AFCON, been a big miss. So, I think they’re probably the two strongest, certainly in that area. Of course, you’ve got the new signing Angulo, who might take a bit of time to get up to the pace of the Premier League, and you’ve got Mundle. So, there is competition, but certainly Talbi and Traore, for me, would be my first pick out of those players.”

Your next Sunderland read: Regis Le Bris names three Sunderland players about to become key as injury worries mount