RLB ON INJURIES

Regis Le Bris discussed how he will cope with Habib Diarra's lengthy absence, with the midfielder expected to be out of action until December. The Head Coach says squad depth is important and praised the players from last season who haven't featured much as of yet.

DIARRA

“We will see. We know now he will need time to recover properly, without rushing the process. He is a very young player and this injury is important. I think if we take care of him through the rehab process then he will be okay for the future for Sunderland. Whether it is early or a bit later, we will see.”

STILL INVOLVED

“He will still be in the dressing room so he won’t leave the team, but he will probably be in a different mindset because when you are not connected with the game and the training sessions, it is a bit harder. Yes, it will be different but it is part of the journey. It will be an opportunity for him to grow as a player and as a human, to be better at the end.”

SQUAD DEPTH

“I think injuries are part of the journey, it gives opportunities for players with less game time to show their quality, to help the squad and step up. They have worked hard so far so they deserve this opportunity, even if it is through an injury but it is always like that. So, I am not worried about this situation. It is a shame because Habib was really important for us and did well so far but depth in the squad is important.”

DEFENSIVE OPTIONS

“I think when we built the squad with the recruitment structure and sporting direction, we thought about different options. I think we have a player to cover (Reinildo) and we have versatility as well to create other options, depending on the scenario, the opponent and the dynamic of the squad.”

LAST SEASON'S PROMOTION WINNERS

“They are really impressive from a mindset perspective. It was probably one of our main strengths last season. We were not always the best team in the league on the pitch but the connection between the players and the way they were all involved as subs, as starters, as finishers, the way they managed their frustrations and managed their energy to go ‘til the end’ and win the games at the end was really impressive. It is still the case and they don’t want it to change. We want to build around this identity. They are still in the squad, sometimes they can start or sometimes they are on the bench, but they are still important for the squad.”

MATETE, ANDERSON, POVEDA ETC.

“They are still training with the group because we need to take care of them, but they are not involved in the core of the squad right now. They are probably waiting for the next transfer window to find a new opportunity. It is not ideal, to be fair, but football is like that. Sometimes you have the perfect pathway and sometimes that is not the case, and you have to manage your situation properly.”