Regis Le Bris has been handed an injury boost ahead of Sunderland Championship clash at Preston North End on Wednesday night. The Black Cats head coach has confirmed Chris Rigg has overcome a chest issue and is available to play and so too are Dan Ballard and Eliezer Mayenda.
He also confirmed that Aji Alese is back in training, close to fitness and in line for selection after the international break. Anthony Patterson is not likely to be fit for Preston but could return for the Coventry City clash at the Stadium of Light this weekend.
It represents a boost for Le Bris, who will have to do without Jobe Bellingham for the next three matches following his red card against QPR.
Having to play without Bellingham could be an issue but Le Bris said: “We have a squad, with, I think, 16/17 players able to play in the core and then we have other young players. They need foundations to express themselves but this core exists at the minute. I am confident with the options we have. We will have to create something new but it’s not a problem.”
With regards to how Bellingham was feeling, Le Bris added: “That happens during a career. We can learn from many situations and this is new for him. It will be a new learning and I’m sure he can be stronger after that.”
At various times, Le Bris has had to adapt to different injury problems and he added: “Yes, we kept 11 or 12 players together at the start in different games and now I have a higher rotation, but for me it’s not a problem. It’s a long season in the championship, and we have to manage 17 or 18 players at the core. We have to find new references with a new player with his own style and experience and we will have to adjust in the second or third game to have the right balance. But that’s life. We can’t think that we play the whole season with 11 or 12 players; it’s normal.”
He is delighted with the returnees and explained: “Yes, we are happy because many players are back in the team. For example, Dan [Ballard], Eliezer [Mayender] and Aji [Alese]. Not Patterson for Preston but probably later, but he is training now with the team so that’s good news. And Riggy as well.”
Rigg’s return is huge too and Le Bris smiled: “I’m so pleased. I am very pleased for him and the team and he is so interesting for the balance of the team. With him and Patrick [Roberts] and Trai on that side, they are playing so well in that triangle and when you lose an element, you have to create something new and that can take time.”
He wants to stay with the same back four scenario so it will be interesting to see whether Ballard returns given Chris Mepham’s form. When it was suggested he could change shape to accommodate, Le Bris answered, “We built a system and foundation and I don’t want to change that too early and we have good references.
“We need to sometimes change the shape to solve problems during the game, but we will work on the back four and at the minute as it’s better to play like that.
“Dan feels good. When he returned for the first time, he struggled, as he wasn’t 100 percent with the feelings about his ankle. Now he is really good so it’s different. When you struggle with pain, it’s still difficult to find the right behaviour on the pitch.
“We also have many players on four yellow cards. We don’t know when this [suspensions] will happen. With Trai [Hume] for example, he has lasted six or seven games without a yellow card. When a player has to manage new conditions, he can change his behaviour. Trai has managed this situation very well.
“It’s good for him because when you have this condition you have to change your behaviour so I am very happy.”
In Bellingham’s absence, Alan Browne will get the nod against his old club and Le Bris confirmed: “He will play and he deserves to play as he is a good pro. He shows quiet leadership but strong leadership and obviously our midfielders play very well, and Browney has to wait. We were sure there would be opportunities to play and it is now and he has done well.”
On Preston, he added, “It is a very competitive league and every team is proactive so even if you are at the bottom, the team doesn’t wait for mistakes; they try to push; they are not a passive opponent and I am sure Preston won’t be passive against us. They are strong and it will be intense as it was against QPR and we will see if we have learned from that situation.”
