Sunderland teams explained as Régis Le Bris suffers major injury setback ahead of Leeds United clash

Sunderland have been hit with a major blow ahead of their clash with Leeds United after goalkeeper Robin Roefs was ruled out due to injury.

Le Bris confirmed ahead of the game that Roefs had sustained a hamstring injury but added that he hopes it is not serious: “A minor hamstring injury. He stretched his leg during a good save for us at Bournemouth, but unfortunately he picked up an injury. I hope it won't be too long.”

It means that January signing Melker Ellborg will make his full debut at Elland Road, with Simon Moore coming onto the substitute’s bench. The game will be a major test for Ellborg, who has limited senior experience even if he did impress playing in the Europa League for Malmo earlier this season. In a further setback for the Black Cats ahead of what is sure to be a tricky away fixture, Granit Xhaka is not named in the starting XI. The influential midfielder is named on the bench, however, suggesting that is a decision around workload management following his recent ankle injury.

The news has forced Le Bris into another tactical reshuffle, which means Luke O’Nien is set to make his first Premier League start. The 31-year-old is expected to start at right back, pushing Lutsharel Geertruida into holding midfield.

The Sunderland head coach has made one other change to his XI, switching his young wingers with Nilson Angulo coming onto the right flank in place of Chemsdine Talbi who drops to the bench.

Le Bris confirmed in his pre-match interview that Xhaka has not suffered a fresh injury: “We are following the process for Granit, three days after the last game was a little bit too short for him to start. He'll come on the pitch later. I'm happy for Luke because he's an important player in the squad and it's a big opportunity for him.”

Sunderland XI: Ellborg; O’Nien, Ballard, Alderete, Hume; Geertruida, Diarra, Sadiki; Angulo, Le Fee; Mayenda

Subs: Moore, Rigg, Jenson Jones, Harrison Jones, Isidor, Traore, Talbi, Xhaka, Aleksic

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Le Bris confirms significant Sunderland injury

Sunderland had already seen Nordi Mukiele, Brian Brobbey, Dennis Cirkin and Reinildo all ruled out of the game - though the Black Cats remain hopeful that at this stage that they will all be back in action ahead of the Tyne-Wear derby against Newcastle United later this month.

However, Romaine Mundle is facing a battle to play again this season after undergoing hamstring surgery over the weekend. Speaking on Monday, Le Bris said: “Probably it will be the same timeline he had before. Probably around eight weeks, six to 10 depending on his recovery.

“It's not an easy period. We are supporting him. He's very young and had more or less the same injury last season and beginning of this one. It's another injury on the other hamstring. I hope at the end he'll be fixed. You create your resilience and character in this kind of situation. It's not easy but it is what it is. We try to stay connected with him. The medical staff is really strong and the coaching staff and teammates will stay connected with him. We can't do more.

“It's not an easy situation, especially when you are young. You can face these challenges maybe when you are 25, 26, 27 but it's a bit harder when you are so young.”

Winger Jocelin Ta Bi later posted an update on social media suggesting he too had undergone surgery on an ankle issue, which is likely to require and extended period of recovery and rehabilitation.

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