Sunderland team news explained as Régis Le Bris makes major changes for Bournemouth visit
Sunderland head coach Régis Le Bris has made tow changes to his Sunderland XI to face Bournemouth
Sunderland are set to revert to a back four against Bournemouth after Régis Le Bris named a starting XI without Trai Hume for the first time time season.
Lutsharel Geertruida also drops to the bench, clearing the way for Omar Alderete to return to the XI after his recent spell on the sidelines with a concussion. Nordi Mukiele looks set to push across to right back, with Alderete partnering Dan Ballard in the middle.
Le Bris has also brought Chemsdine Talbi back into the side, which will likely pave the way for Enzo Le Fée to play in his preferred central midfield position. There’s also a huge injury boost on the bench for Sunderland, with Romaine Mundle named on the bench.
Le Bris had confirmed in his pre-match press conference that the winger was now in contention. Luke O’Nien drops out of the squad as a result.
“Yeah, probably now from the rehab programme, Romaine is available for selection because he's a winger and got some minutes and success as well on the pitch [for the U21s],” Le Bris said.
“So it's possible [he could be involved], but we have the full squad and so we don't have to rush. Now it's just a question of choice, if I want to make the choice or not. And for Dennis, Leo, they still need time to build this level. They are not too far from selection as well. Sometimes we can rush even if it's not natural, if it's needed, we'll do it. But we have this opportunity to do it naturally, I think it's better for them, it's better for the squad as well.”
Sunderland XI: Roefs; Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Reinildo; Traore, Sadiki, Xhaka, Le Fee, Talbi; Isidor
Subs: Brobbey, Mayenda, Adingra, Neil, Rigg, Patterson, Geertruida, Mundle, Hume
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Bournemouth, meanwhile, have been handed a major boost after former Sunderland loanee Antoine Semenyo was passed fit to play.
What Régis Le Bris said about Sunderland’s formation ahead of Bournemouth clash
Le Bris had hinted that his side might revert to a back four for this game in his pre-match press conference.
“At this level if you have to be flexible,” Le Bris said.
“After that, it's a question of phases and moments. Probably, if we are in a deep block, in the last fixture, we were comfortable with a back five, 5-4-1. We were able to manage the spaces, to defend the box as well. We were really efficient. A bit higher, when we are in a mid-block, sometimes the 5-4-1, 3-4-3 is not always efficient to press. So maybe we tended to drop a bit. But when we were higher up the pitch, we went in man-for-man. In man-for-man, you don't have a specific structure [anyway]. The last games, it worked well. We might use a 4-4-2 once again, because I think now we are flexible, we have good knowledge. So we'll see.