Sunderland AFC news: What Tony Mowbray said on Amad Diallo, Edouard Michut, Dan Ballard and Preston fixture

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Tony Mowbray’s pre-match press conference ahead of Monday’s big game at Preston.

The Black Cats boss is set to speak to the media at 12:15pm, and we’ll have live updates from the Academy of Light.

Stick around and refresh the page for live updates.

Here’s what the race for the play-offs looks like ahead of Monday’s fixtures.

Sunderland need to beat Preston to stand a chance of finishing in the top six, while hoping either Coventry lose at Middlesbrough, or Millwall don’t win their home fixture against Blackburn.

Sunderland are still set to be without several first-team players for the rest of the season - even if they do reach the play-offs.

Ross Stewart, Corry Evans, Elliot Embleton, Aji Alese, Jewison Bennette and Danny Batth all remain sidelined and are targeting a return for the 2023/24 campaign.

Mowbray said on Saturday Dan Ballard may be ready if Sunderland reach the play-offs after missing the side’s last seven matches with a hamstring issue.

“I think Preston is going to come too soon for him,” said Mowbray last weekend.

“I think if we were to finish in the top six then there’s a chance that he would take part in the games that follow.

“I don’t think you gamble with a footballer who in his mind isn’t 100%, so I think it will be a case of making the best of what we’ve got and finding a way.”

We’ll get a further injury update from the Sunderland boss later today.

“I met a few of the team over this last week. There are some good characters, good people, football guys.

“I think for us we are just preparing the best we can for the game and approach it like we have been for every game really

“We will try to control the game if we can, be aggressive, play the way we play. We haven’t overly studied Preston, I don’t want to turn it into a cup final scenario.

“Let’s go and play the next game and do what we do. We are looking forward to it, it’s been a long week with nine days building to it

“Let’s get the weekend out of the way.  It’s good that there’s football on, the Premier League, but roll on Monday.”

“We have to win don’t we.

“I think the only focus for me will be to win the game, and then I’m sure there will be people whispering in your ear telling you what’s going on, but I won’t be demanding any analysts feeding it down.

“I know our goal is to win the game, and if everyone else wins and we miss out, we can only do what we can do.

“It’s not a situation where a draw gets you through so let’s keep it tight last 10 minutes, we have to go and win.

“I like the clarity of that and that’s what we’ll be trying to do.”

“I think every season is a rollercoaster really.

“Where I have managed over the last 20 years, probably West Brom, there was an expectation because they were a relegated team, hadn’t started too well, had really good players and there was an expectation to try and bounce straight back.

“I think with this club I don’t think there was an expectation that we should roll straight through back-to-back promotions. I think generally the feedback was consolidation.

“The team have done extremely well considering the circumstances around some injuries situations we’ve had.

“We go into the last game with excitement for supporters and hopefully we can win a football match and see what accrues on the back of it.”

“The loan manager from Man United was here yesterday and I had a long, long chat with him. It’s a shame we didn’t do a two-year loan. Let’s wait and see.

“Edouard is a young footballer who has shown what a talent he is. A young guy thrust into a different country into a football squad.

“The positive for him is that he’s had some French speakers around as well.

“As I sit here now we haven’t ultimately made a decision. We want to get the season finished and see what happens, how it goes. Then it’s a two-way conversation really.

“Edouard has to decide whether he has enjoyed it enough, whether he’s had enough game time, whether he thinks the way we play suits him.

“We have to decide if the cost attached to Edouard is appropriate for what we will have to try and add to the team and strengthen in all areas of the pitch.”

“We will be really positive from the off. I don’t think we need to be cagey.

“I think knowing you have to win, we will keep going until the end however long that end is.

“I think the goal difference side of it for us is pretty positive in just about all aspects.

“If Coventry get beat 1-0 and we win 1-0, the goals scored would take us above Coventry even though the goal difference would be the same

“Everyone is aware of that stuff but I think our goal difference is pretty positive. We just have to win the game.”

“I think we have shown that pretty consistently.

“I think there is a lack of fear in the team, I think there are a lot of young players who just want to play.

“Let’s pick a team that can go to Preston and be very competitive.They obviously had a disappointing result last weekend and can’t get there now.

“But playing at home in front of your own fans on the last day of the season, on the back of what’s been a pretty positive season for them, I’m sure they will be giving everything to try and finish on a high.”