Five changes: Sunderland team news explained as Régis Le Bris makes huge calls all over the pitch
Sunderland are back in Premier League action when they face Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon
Timur Tutierov will make his first Premier League appearance at Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon.
Brian Brobbey is a surprise absentee having returned to the bench on Friday night, while Wilson Isidor has also been unable to return to the squad. As a result, Tutierov has retained his place in the starting XI and is preferred to summer signing Juan Riquelme after leading the line well in the Europa League win over Torreense on Thursday night.
It’s one of a number of huge calls from Régis Le Bris right across the pitch, with Omar Alderete also retaining his place at centre back to allow Nordi Mukiele to return to the XI at right back. He will have licence to drive forward with Trai Hume returning to a right wing role in front of him, while Granit Xhaka and Kevin Danso return to the starting XI as expected. Reinildo is back in at left back with Dayann Methalie on the bench, and Le Bris has made one more big call on the left wing.
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Enzo Le Fée moves back into that role with Sunderland’s more natural wingers struggling this season, freeing up Chris Rigg to start in his preferred number eight role. It is the first time Rigg has started in that position in the Premier League since the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa a year ago.
Chemsdine Talbi returns to the bench while Habib Diarra is in line for minutes in the second half.
Sunderland XI: Roefs; Mukiele, Danso, Alderete, Reinildo; Xhaka, Sadiki, Rigg; Hume, Le Fee, Tutierov
Subs: Ellborg, O’Nien, Diarra, Ahoka, Angulo, Talbi, Fofana, Riquelme, Methalie