Why Régis Le Bris could be without TEN senior players for Sunderland's FA Cup fifth round clash

Régis Le Bris could be without ten senior players when Sunderland bid to book a place in the FA Cup quarter finals at Port Vale on Sunday.

Port Vale are struggling in League One this season but sealed a big cup upset on Tuesday night by beating Championship side Bristol City 1-0 thanks to an extra-time goal.

Sunderland saw their already extensive issues injury worsen on Tuesday night despite sealing a brilliant 1-0 win over Leeds United, with Robin Roefs ruled out ahead of the game with a hamstring injury. Le Bris said after the game that the issue was not serious, but that the goalkeeper will be absent for two to three weeks. Sunderland are hopeful he'll back in time to face Newcastle United in the Tyne-Wear derby later this month, but Melker Ellborg will continue between the sticks at Vale Park.

The Black Cats also saw Bertrand Traoré limp out in the latter stages of the game, just moments after his introduction. Though at this stage it is too early to be definitive, Sunderland fear that he may have suffered a recurrence of the knee injury which recently kept him on the sidelines for around six weeks. He is clearly a major doubt for Sunday's game, and unlikely to feature as things stand.

None of Sunderland's other current injury absentees are expected to return in time for the game, though Dennis Cirkin and Reinildo are on schedule to return ahead of the Tyne-Wear derby. Sunderland also hope that Brian Brobbey and Nordi Mukiele will be back from groin and calf issues respectively by then, but both will miss out on Sunday. Romaine Mundle and Jocelin Ta Bi are both facing a race to feature again this season, having undergone surgery on hamstring and ankle issues respectively.

Le Bris's already significant issues are made worse by the FA Cup suspension rules, with any player who picks up two yellow cards before the end of the quarter final facing a one-game suspension. Trai Hume and Noah Sadiki have picked up yellow cards in both of Sunderland's win so far over Everton and Oxford United, and so are suspended for this game. Luke O'Nien, Wilson Isidor, Enzo Le Fee, Granit Xhaka and Dan Ballard are all on one yellow for the competition as things stand.

Sunderland will have a big decision to make over the extent of Xhaka's involvement at Port Vale given his ongoing return from an ankle issue, though the sheer scale of Le Bris's availability issues may see him start the contest. That would allow Lutsharel Geertruida to move to full back to cover Hume's absence, with Le Fee returning to a central role and Chemsdine Talbi coming back into the starting XI. Chris Rigg is another contender for more minutes.

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Port Vale v Sunderland: Date, kick off, TV and prize money details

Port Vales's win over Bristol City means that the game is confirmed for Sunday, March 8th with a 1.30pm kick off. The game will be televised on TNT Sports.

Though a long way from the riches of the Premier League, the game has significant financial incentives for Sunderland aside from the big sporting context of a win putting them one game away from a Wembley semi final. The club have already banked £338,500 in prize and broadcast money from their two sides so far, with Sunday's game earning them a further £120,000 in broadcast money. The winner of the tie will bank £238,500 in prize money, and get the chance to play for a £477,000 prize pot in the quarter finals. FA Cup gate receipts are shared after expenses, furthering boosting Sunderland's finances as they progress through the competition.

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