These are the three key Sunderland decisions I expect Régis Le Bris to make at Hull City this weekend
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When Régis Le Bris surveys his tactics board at the Academy of Light this week, he'll be greeted by the very welcome sight of some genuine selection dilemmas.
Sunderland's squad undoubtedly isn't quite yet where they would like it to be, Ian Poveda facing a spell on the sidelines and Salis Abdul Samed still not fully fit and ready to make his debut following his deadline-day switch from RC Lens. Having spent much of the international break away with Serbia U21s, it also seems unlikely that Milan Aleksic has moved significantly closer to selection.
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Hide AdLe Bris should, all being well, have three very difficult decisions still to make ahead of the trip to Hull City and they are the kind he would have liked to have faced more often through the early weeks of the season. Sunderland remain hopeful that Dan Ballard will be able to return from an ankle issue, while Eliezer Mayenda should be available after missing the last three games with a minor muscle problem. Most significantly, Alan Browne's exclusion from the Republic of Ireland squad means he has had two solid weeks of training at the Academy of Light to continue building his fitness and push himself closer to selection. After his late heroics against Leeds United (OK, assisted heavily by the goalkeeper Ilan Meslier), his case in particular will be hard for Le Bris to ignore.
Experience from the first months of Le Bris's tenure, though, probably tells us that any changes to the starting XI will be minimal - and in fact I wouldn't be surprised if there were none at all.
While Sunderland did look to have somewhat run out of ideas in the latter stages of the game against Leeds United before Meslier's intervention, broadly speaking they produced a performance across the 90 minutes that Le Bris was satisfied with. That draw followed a good win over Derby County, and since those two games the vast majority of Le Bris's XI have had a chance to rest.
Mayenda's early season form warrants respect but Wilson Isidor has two goals in his first three starts as a central striker, and he has also shown a happy knack of being able to hold the ball up. Mayenda brings a lot out of possession and his pressing abilities will ensure he gets plenty of minutes moving forward, but Le Bris will likely stick with Isidor in the hope that he can continue his scoring form.
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Hide AdWhile Ballard's qualities are beyond question, Chris Mepham has slotted seamlessly into the Sunderland XI in his absence and that gives Sunderland the luxury of easing the Northern Ireland international back into action - thus reducing the risk of any further complications or setbacks. And for all Alan Browne can consider himself very unfortunate not to be an automatic pick, the danger that the triangle of Trai Hume, Chris Rigg and Patrick Roberts pose in possession have been regularly praised by Le Bris.
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With three games in six days, Le Bris will likely have to rotate at some stage and it would be a surprise if Browne in particular did not get his chance at some stage.
If we've learned one thing about Le Bris, though, it's that he will look to keep disruption to a minimum. Don't expect any overhaul this Sunday.
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