Sunderland have been hit with a fresh double injury blow ahead of their clash with Brighton

Sunderland have been hit with a fresh double injury blow after both Nilson Angulo and Enzo Le Fée were ruled out of Brighton’s visit to the Stadium of Light.

There is positive news for Régis Le Bris with both Granit Xhaka and Brian Brobbey returning to the starting XI, but the fresh injury blows have prompted the Black Cats head boss into another reshuffle of his starting XI and mark another major worry ahead of next weekend’s Tyne-Wear derby. Angulo is ruled out of that game: Sunderland are still assessing the exact nature of the injury but he is looking at four to six weeks on the sidelines. Le Fee is at this stage still hopeful of featuring next weekend.

Le Bris said ahead of kick off against Brighton: “Yeah, they picked up injuries during the training session, which is a shame, but it is what it is. We are more or less in this cycle when it's hard to manage the load, but we still have a strong starting XI, players on the bench to help the squad. It's a bit early, probably for Nilson it might last four weeks, six weeks, and for Enzo it might be less. I hope for the derby against Newcastle.”

Chris Rigg is expected to move out to the right wing as a result of Angulo’s absence, while Chemsdine Talbi moves onto the left wing in Le Fee’s absence. Lutsharel Geertruida gets the nod at right back ahead of Luke O’Nien, while Trai Hume returns to the starting XI at left back following his suspension for the FA Cup defeat to Port Vale. Noah Sadiki returns in midfield following his suspension.

Sunderland’s fresh injury issues mean that Le Bris is once again forced into naming a very inexperienced bench at Premier League level, though Dennis Cirkin returns from a hamstring issue to bolster the bench. Harrison, Jenson and Jaydon Jones are all on the bench, as well as talented midfielder Jack Whittaker. Milan Aleksic is not involved as he is playing for the U21s at Chelsea.

Sunderland XI: Ellborg; Geertruida, Ballard, Alderete, Hume; Xhaka, Sadiki, Diarra; Rigg, Talbi, Brobbey

Subs: Moore, Cirkin, Isidor, Mayenda, Jones (Harrison), Jones (Jenson), Jones (Jaydon), Whittaker, O’Nien

Danny Welbeck starts up front for Brighton on his return to the starting XI, while influential defender Lewis Dunk returns to the XI following a minor injury.

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Régis Le Bris urges Sunderland to respond to Port Vale defeat against Brighton

“Last week was disappointing, a bit embarrassing, to be fair,” Le Bris said.

“This week reflects our journey this season, I think. After three defeats in a row, the last one at home against Fulham, where we picked up four injuries in the same game, we earned a good point at Bournemouth, a tough place, really intense, they were on a good run. Then we went to Leeds.

“Survival was the key word in this game, and Elland Road is also a tough place, and we found a way to win, once again, and it was a well-deserved three points. After that, consistency is key, and against Port Vale, obviously the pitch levelled everything, so it was more about desire, fighting spirit, and we lacked, clearly, those foundations. So it's sad, because we missed a big opportunity to go further.

“We showed before at Everton and Oxford that we were able to do that, but we didn't repeat. So with the players, we were tough, but it is what it is. You have to take the lesson and go further. We'll see [the response today].

“I think it's more about the identity, once again. If you show desire, you show strong teamwork, strong togetherness, it's a starting point for me. After that, you can win, you can lose, because the opponent is strong. The scenario in football is still unpredictable. Sometimes you win, but you didn't deserve it. Sometimes you lose, but you didn't deserve it. It is what it is. At least show these basics. I think the players will do that.”

Your next Sunderland read: Follow all the latest from the Stadium of Light this afternoon