Sunderland goalkeeper Melker Ellborg has been speaking to Swedish media during the current international break...

Sunderland goalkeeper Melker Ellborg has admitted that he was “sad” to have missed out on Regis Le Bris’ squad for the group stage of this season’s Europa League.

With spaces for foreign talents limited, the Swede was omitted from the Black Cats’ continental contingent in favour of veteran homegrown option Simon Moore. And while Ellborg - who has established himself as a de facto understudy to first choice stopper Robin Roefs since his arrival on Wearside - could still be parachuted in in the event of an injury, being left out in the first place has, in his own words, been a disappointing experience.

Speaking as a guest on Fotbollskanalen‘s podcast, Lundh, the 23-year-old said: “It’s sad news that came the other week. We are a club with a lot of foreign players and this foreign quota that they have doesn’t suit us very well. So, there was a rule that if the goalkeeper gets injured, you can replace that goalkeeper and put in another one, which doesn’t work with outfield players. That’s when they made that decision.”

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Ellborg went on to discuss his general feelings towards acting as a deputy to Roefs, adding: “It’s nothing new. I’ve been in that position many times before. So, I know what it’s about and that you have to make the best of the situation. Although it’s sad not to play every weekend, there are training weeks where you can develop even though you don’t play on the weekends. So, it’s really about making the best of the situation.”

But the promising keeper is keen to put his Europa League omission behind him quickly, and is instead choosing to seek out the positives in the situation. Explaining his stance, the Sweden international said: “Those were [the] matches that I saw myself being able to be involved in and influence and play in. So, it’s clear that it was a sad decision. Then I always try to get new perspectives on situations. Now, instead, I’ll be able to stay home during the week and train, working on the details I want to refine.”

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