Sunderland will be without their captain and arguably most important player when they face West Ham today

Sunderland have been hit with a major injury blow for their clash with West Ham United after Granit Xhaka was ruled out due to injury.

Xhaka is thought to have been managing an issue in recent weeks and while it is not at this stage thought to lead to a lengthy absence, the Black Cats will be without him as they look to build on their win over Crystal Palace last weekend. Régis Le Bris has opted against making a like-for-like change in Xhaka’s absence, instead bringing Eliezer Mayenda into the XI. Le Bris looks set to reprise the hybrid formation he fielded against Manchester City earlier this year for the game, with Mayenda pushing up and infield to support Brian Brobbey as a second striker.

Sunderland have issued a brief statement on Xhaka’s injury, saying that the midfielder is managing an ankle issue: “Granit Xhaka has been ruled out of today’s trip to West Ham United. The midfielder sustained an ankle injury in last weekend’s victory over Crystal Palace and is now undergoing a period of rehabilitation at the Academy of Light.”

Mayenda’s inclusion is the only change to the starting XI from the win over Crystal Palace. As expected, Chemsdine Talbi and Habib Diarra are back on the bench following their return from the Africa Cup of Nations.

Dan Neil is absent from the squad amidst increasing speculation over his future at the club now that he has entered the final six months of his contract. Neil has interest from a number of clubs including Sheffield United and Rangers, who are reportedly leading the race. Le Bris is set to issue an update after the West Ham game, with it understood that the midfielder is managing a minor muscle issue which is the primary reason behind his absence from the squad.

Sunderland XI: Roefs; Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Reinildo; Hume, Sadiki, Le Fee, Mundle; Mayenda, Brobbey

Subs: Patterson, Geertruida, Isidor, Cirkin, Talbi, Diarra, O’Nien, Rigg, Adingra

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Le Bris: Having Habib Diarra back like a new signing for Sunderland

“It will be a new start for us and Habib,” Le Bris said.

“The story is different now for him and for the squad as well. It's more or less a new signing because he only played three or four games at the beginning of our journey, then he got this injury. The team evolved massively.

“What we know is he's a great player and he's really young and he can play in different positions. At Strasbourg he played in the middle - 6, 8, 10 - he can play as a winger sometimes. He's versatile, strong, has a willingness to learn.

“This is the dynamic of the Premier League, you always need to evolve, so it's positive news for us.”

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