Sunderland make the short trip to St James’ Park for the Tyne-Wear derby on Sunday lunchtime

Sunderland return to Premier League action on Sunday with one of the biggest games of their season at St James’ Park.

The Black Cats prepare to face Newcastle United with a number of major injury concerns, which only grew before and during the 1-0 defeat to Brighton at the Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon. Here, we run you through the early team news from both camps...

The early Sunderland team news - four doubts and four ruled out

Sunderland have some big calls to make this week, with a number of key players early doubts for the game. Dan Ballard has emerged as a huge concern for the Black Cats ahead of the derby, having been forced off in the second half of the Brighton loss with an injury. Though Régis Le Bris said immediately after the game that he did not know the extent of the issue, he confirmed that there was a hamstring concern that will have to be assessed this week. One of Sunderland's most important players this season, Ballard's absence would be a massive blow.

Le Bris was at least boosted by the return of Granit Xhaka and Brian Brobbey to the starting XI on Saturday, and having taken a cautious approach with Brobbey by withdrawing him with around 15 minutes of normal time left to play, the striker should after another week of full training be able to play a full part at St James' Park. Sunderland should be also be bolstered by the return of Reinildo, who was expected to resume full training yesterday after a spell on the sidelines with a knee injury. The left back has not played competitive football for a month but should he train fully this week, he will likely go straight back into the XI where his speed, experience and defensive quality will be crucial to Sunderland's chances.

Le Bris also revealed after the Brighton defeat that he remains hopeful that Enzo Le Fée will return on Sunday after missing the 1-0 loss with a minor injury, but he clearly is an early doubt. Sunderland know they will be short in the wide areas with Bertrand Traoré, Jocelin Ta Bi, Romaine Mundle and Nilson Angulo all sidelined for lengthy periods; Chris Rigg's excellent performance against Brighton in defeat could earn him another start at St James' Park.

Sunderland will then likely have to make a judgement call on Robin Roefs and Nordi Mukiele, who are improving from their respective hamstring and calf injuries but are in a race against time to feature on Sunday. Mukiele is expected to resume training this week but Le Bris admits his inclusion would be a risk: "Nordi is getting better, we'll see for next week. It's always the same: you can take the risk, he might play against Newcastle, but if we lose him for eight weeks after, it doesn't make sense. We are always on the edge so we'll try to manage the situation properly."

Mukiele is a huge player for Sunderland and a key player in the group, though Reinildo's return would give Le Bris the option of moving Trai Hume across to right back. Le Bris also revealed after the Brighton game that Wilson Isidor is suffering from a minor injury, though he is expected to be fit for Sunday's game.

Potential Sunderland XI: Roefs (Ellborg); Mukiele (Hume), Ballard (Geertruida), Alderete, Reinildo; Xhaka, Diarra, Sadiki; Le Fée (Talbi), Rigg, Brobbey

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The early Newcastle United team news - three ruled out and three early doubts

Newcastle United also have some key injury concerns, though Eddie Howe said ahead of the win at Chelsea that his squad is in the best place it has been for a while following the return of influential full back Tino Livramento.

Captain Bruno Guimaraes remains a notable absentee for the hosts, and will miss Sunday's game as he goes through the final stages of his recovery from a hamstring injury. Fabian Schar and Emil Krath will also miss the game with ankle and knee injuries respectively, while Lewis Miley is a major doubt. Miley has been targeting Wednesday's night second leg against Barcelona for his return from a thigh injury, but Howe confirmed at the end of last week that he had not yet resumed full training and so remains a major doubt for both games this week. Newcastle were handed two new concerns in their 1-0 win over Chelsea, with Sandro Tonali missing the game due to illness. He is at this stage expected to be back on Sunday, but Joe Willock is an early doubt after being forced off at Stamford Bridge in the second half with an apparent thigh issue.

Your next Sunderland read: Florent Ghisolfi on Sunderland dream, Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Régis Le Bris