Sunderland begin their Premier League campaign this week when they face Ipswich Town at Portman Road

Ahead of kick off against Stade Rennais, Sunderland's starting XI for the opening day of the campaign looked all but settled.

News of Thomas Meunier's absence, however, may well mean a reshuffle is required for the opening day clash with Ipswich Town. At this stage Meunier has not been ruled out as Sunderland assess his back injury, but given that he has splayed only 45 minutes in pre-season it seems fair to say he is a major doubt. While Nordi Mukiele is on track to feature at Portman Road, Régis Le Bris has previously hinted that he might not be ready to start.

All of which raises the distinct possibility of Trai Hume reverting to right back, and opening up a major vacancy ahead of him on the right flank. If so, it will be Le Bris's biggest call to make this week. His selection against Stade Rennais seemed to offer a clue as to his thinking on the opposite flank, with Chemsdine Talbi given the nod and that seems a sensible way to go considering the experience the 21-year-old has gathered over the last year.

If that is the call that Le Bris makes, then it would seem to be a choice between Chris Rigg and Nilson Angulo on the right. Rigg has been a standout player throughout the pre-season campaign, initially in a central role as the club's World Cup cohort began to filter back into the group. However, their return saw Rigg moved out to the right flank where he has in the last two games made a huge impact from the bench. Against RC Lens it was his cross that led to Hume breaking the deadlock, and moments later his clever first-time flick that set Talbi away to tee up Wilson Isidor. At the Stadium of Light on Saturday was equally effective, unlucky not to get another assist when Reinildo's header from his inch-perfect delivery was saved well by Brice Samba. On merit, it's almost impossible to argue that Rigg isn't deserving of a place in the starting XI. He finished last season strongly when called upon, and has clearly matured and developed further over the summer. His attitude in recent weeks as it became increasingly obvious he would not be starting in central midfield has been first class, ready to take whatever opportunity comes his way. Le Bris's message that he needs players to be ready to make an impact across a long season has been consistent from the moment Sunderland qualified for the Europa League, and he will be impressed that Rigg has taken it onboard.

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The question is whether Rigg's success from the bench over the last fortnight ends up counting slightly against him. Has been so good when the game has broken open and legs are tiring, that Le Bris wants to preserve him to replicate that role at Ipswich Town. Angulo is still raw and was caught offside too often against Stade Rennais, but also worked impressively hard and consistently won his team the ball back in dangerous areas. That will also have been noted by Le Bris.

The Sunderland head coach would of course no doubt say that this discussion is moot; that both will have a big role to play across the 90 minutes regardless of who starts. He admitted after the Stade Rennais game that it was a question that remained very much up in the air, and no doubt he will focus closely on training this week before making a final decision. It would be harsh in the extreme were Rigg to miss out, but he has shown he is ready to make his mark either way.

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