Sunderland suffer Omar Alderete suspension blow as Chelsea absence and Europa League eligibility confirmed
Sunderland defender Omar Alderete was sent off against Coventry City, leaving Régis Le Bris with another defensive selection headache
Sunderland will be without Omar Alderete for next weekend's Premier League clash against Chelsea following his red card in Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Coventry City.
The Paraguay international was dismissed deep into stoppage time at the Coventry Building Society Arena after receiving two yellow cards in the closing stages of another disappointing afternoon for Régis Le Bris' side.
Alderete was initially booked in the 94th minute before receiving a second caution five minutes later for pulling back Coventry midfielder Jack Rudoni. Referee Simon Hooper subsequently showed the defender a red card, reducing Sunderland to ten men in the final moments.
The dismissal carries an automatic one-match suspension, meaning Alderete will miss Chelsea's visit to the Stadium of Light on Sunday, November 8. However, there is some positive news for Le Bris, with Alderete remaining eligible for Thursday's Europa League encounter against Dinamo Zagreb.
Why Omar Alderete can play against Dinamo Zagreb but not Chelsea
Although Alderete was dismissed against Coventry, his suspension applies to domestic competition and does not carry over into UEFA fixtures. That means the defender remains available for selection when Sunderland host Dinamo Zagreb at the Stadium of Light on Thursday, November 5, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm.
Alderete will then serve his one-match ban against Chelsea three days later, provided there is no subsequent disciplinary change. Under the disciplinary rules, receiving two yellow cards in the same match results in a one-game suspension, rather than the longer punishment ordinarily associated with certain straight red-card offences.
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His availability against Dinamo Zagreb will be welcome news for Le Bris, particularly given Sunderland's existing defensive injury concerns and the importance of maintaining their encouraging European form. The Black Cats have collected seven points from their opening three Europa League league-phase matches, recording victories against AZ Alkmaar and Torreense before drawing with Lech Poznań.
Alderete's suspension leaves Le Bris with another defensive headache against Chelsea. Kevin Danso and Luke O'Nien are available, but Sunderland's defensive struggles remain a concern. Dan Ballard is still recovering from a hamstring injury, while Nordi Mukiele could return against Chelsea after missing the Dinamo Zagreb clash through concussion protocols.