Sunderland continue their Premier League campaign against Brighton this afternoon

Chris Rigg returns to the Sunderland starting XI at Brighton as Régis Le Bris makes four changes to the side that beat Newcastle United last weekend.

Rigg is set to play on the right wing as Le Bris sticks with a back four despite losing a number of senior players due to the Africa Cup of Nations this week. Simon Adingra, who has had a frustrating start to his time on Wearside, is also handed a major opportunity to impress against his former club from the left wing. Adingra’s lack of game time so far this season led to him being left out of the Ivory Coast squad for AFCON, but with Chemsdine Talbi and Bertrand Traore heading for Morocco he now has a big opportunity to make his mark.

Trai Hume unsurprisingly returns to the side to replace Reinildo at left, while Lutsharel Geertruida comes into the starting XI asnd is expected to play as the holding midfielder. Granit Xhaka will play alongside him with Enzo Le Fée playing behind Brian Brobbey.

Dennis Cirkin and Leo Hjelde come into the squad for the first time this season, while Habib Diarra is also on the bench. He’ll head off to join the Senegal squad after this game.

Sunderland XI: Roefs; Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Hume; Geertruida, Xhaka, Le Fée; Adingra, Rigg, Brobbey

Subs: Patterson, Isidor, Diarra, Neil, Mundle, Mayenda, Jones, Hjelde, Cirkin

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Brighton, meanwhile, are without influential forward Danny Welbeck for the game. The experienced striker has been struggling with a back issue and doesn’t make the bench, but former Sunderland winger Tommy Watson does after recovering from a recent muscle issue.

Régis Le Bris backing Sunderland’s squad players to come good during AFCON

Sunderland are beginning arguably their most difficult phase of the season as the festive fixtures start, with those key senior players missing for AFCON.

Le Bris, though, is confident that those he’s bringing into the side are ready for the challenge.

“They worked well, so for me this is the best element I have to anticipate the future, but after that you have to play,” Le Bris said.

“Their involvement was always high, they were frustrated but not negative, which I think is the right balance. I'm happy for them and I repeat, I trust their level, I trust their connection with the squad and now just play.”

The Sunderland head coach also believes that the new energy in the group can help avoid any hangover from last Sunday’s exhilarating Wear-Tyne derby win over Newcastle United.

Le Bris said: “No, I didn't feel complacency this week at all, because we know that the next opponent will be tough and probably, connected with the AFCON, we'll have new players involved and they will bring new energy as well, so probably it's a good period for that.”

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