Sunderland will once again be without Granit Xhaka when they face Burnley on Monday night

Luke O'Nien has backed his Sunderland team mates to step up in Granit Xhaka's absence.

Xhaka missed his first Premier League game this season at the London Stadium, as Sunderland shipped three first-half goals in what eventually ended as a 3-1 defeat to West Ham United. The Black Cats did improve in the second half, in which O'Nien was a late substitute at right back.

O'Nien is the club captain and will have a key role to play while Xhaka is sidelined and while he admits the influential midfielder will be a big miss, he believes there are enough leaders in the squad to cope.

"Of course he's a miss, he's a massive player and character," O'Nien said.

"He still travelled down with us to West Ham and was in the dressing room but we have a number of leaders in this dressing room who can step up. I fully back the team. Of course he is a big miss but we have a lot of quality and leaders.

"For me, I try to stay as consistent as I can, whether I'm starting or not. I'm me, I know who I am and I try to stay consistent whatever is happening. I try to be a voice, I try to help the players and the team. Sometimes get it right, sometimes I don't, but I just want to contribute in any shape or form.

"The boys have to step into Granit's shoes and I'm sure they will."

Speaking immediately after the game, head coach Régis Le Bris confirmed that Xhaka would be absent for Monday night's visit of Burnley.

Le Bris said: "He has an ankle injury, so he'll need at least two weeks to recover and then we'll have another assessment to set the real period of rest, so we'll see."

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Luke O'Nien reflects on Sunderland's defeat to West Ham United

O'Nien urged Sunderland to learn the lessons from their defeat at West Ham United, but said perspective was key after such an impressive campaign so far.

"Perspective is always key in football. Instead of just looking at the game in isolation, we have to look at the whole season," O'Nien said.

"But we won't just throw this under the rug and say it didn't happen, you have to learn from your failures. We spent three or four years in League One, that's why we're having the success we are now.

"Games like this are failures from the outside but it's games like this that will make us successful. We'll pull them apart, work out why we're so far away from out identity and put it right. If you win, you don't need to do that. These games are really important for the football club individually and collectively. And we'll always maintain perspective. We're in a hell of a position. We worked very hard, we've competed with every team this season other than maybe two games."

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