Sunderland Manager Le Bris Confirms Le Fée Injury, Ballard Expected Return

Sunderland head coach Régis Le Bris confirmed that key midfielder Enzo Le Fée is sidelined with a minor injury sustained during training, ruling him out of their recent match against Crystal Palace with no definite return date set. Defender Dan Ballard is also currently injured but is expected to be fit for the upcoming game against Aston Villa, while several other players including Dennis Cirkin, Luke O’Nien, Leo Hjelde, Aji Alese, and Romain Mundle face longer recovery periods due to various injuries. Le Bris highlighted the versatility and potential impact of new signings like Brian Brobbey, Lutsharel Geertruida, and Bertrand Traore, although some may not yet be ready for a full match. The coach emphasized the importance of patience in managing the squad's fitness and noted that some players are still working to regain match fitness after long layoffs. Sunderland's tactical adjustments, such as introducing Simon Adingra in place of Le Fée, reflect the ongoing challenges posed by the injury situation. Overall, Le Bris remains hopeful about the squad's return to full strength in the near future, especially with Dan Ballard's anticipated comeback.