The 6 Sunderland players who could benefit most from looming AFCON exodus

It’s finally upon us. After months of dreading it, Sunderland’s African stars will head off to AFCON next week, leaving Regis Le Bris with some gaping holes to fill in his squad.

For his part, however, the head coach has insisted that he trusts in the quality and depth of his dressing room, and in those players who are likely to be called upon to plug those gaps over the coming period.

And with that in mind, we’ve taken a look at which Black Cats talents in particular could stand to benefit from the sudden upheaval in Le Bris’ personnel...

Dennis Cirkin

With Reinildo and Arthur Masuaku both set to compete for Mozambique and DR Congo, Cirkin suddenly finds himself in a prominent role as Sunderland’s most natural and obvious left-back option. Still yet to make a first team appearance this term following a series of injury setbacks, the defender has been featuring fairly regularly at U21 level, and is surely on the cusp of being handed his chance.

Dan Neil

A man who will have been waiting for AFCON more than most. Last season’s skipper has barely got a look-in this term, but with Noah Sadiki and (very probably) Habib Diarra set for international action, could this finally be the opening Neil needs to play his way back into Regis Le Bris’ thinking? With his contract situation still to be resolved as well, it feels like this could be a particularly significant period in deciding his medium to long-term future in the North East.

Simon Adingra

A real shock, this one. At the beginning of the season, it was taken as read that Adingra, like the majority of his African peers, would be leaving Wearside to compete in AFCON this month. Fast forward to the present, however, and the winger has played surprisingly infrequently for Sunderland this term, and has been omitted from Ivory Coast’s travelling cohort for the tournament. But with Bertrand Traore receiving a call up for Burkina Faso, and with Chemsdine Talbi expected to get the nod for host nation Morocco, surely the £21 million summer signing will find himself in the starting XI sooner rather than later.

Romaine Mundle

Given the aforementioned (anticipated) absences of Traore and Talbi, what a boost it is for Le Bris to be able to call upon Romaine Mundle once again after his lengthy injury absence. Pacey, direct, and a real goal threat, the winger has all the requisite qualities to thrive in the Premier League, and now, he will presumably be hoping to use the next few weeks as a platform on which he can build his claim as a regular starter.

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Lutsharel Geertruida

Compared to some of the other names on this list, Geertruida has actually played a decent amount of football this season. The Dutchman has a dozen Premier League appearances under his belt, and has impressed during his time in England thus far. Mainly deployed as a centre-back, he can, of course, also operate as a midfielder, and with Sadiki jetting off to AFCON next week, could he be the man chosen to replace the 20-year-old?

Chris Rigg

Overlooked for a place in the match day squad in recent weeks, Rigg won’t necessarily waltz into Le Bris’ starting XI, but with so many players heading out the door, you would have to imagine that he will at least find himself back on the bench and within touching distance of precious minutes over the next month or so.

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