Regis Le Bris confirms Sunderland will be without ‘one of the best’ vs Chelsea after injury update
Regis Le Bris has provided an update on his squad’s fitness ahead of the trip to Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday.
Chelsea are the favourites to beat Sunderland, but the Black Cats will carry confidence given their start to the season.
Le Bris‘ side have won four of their opening eight games, losing just two, and currently sit two points behind Manchester City in second place.
Reinildo is expected to return to the line-up against Chelsea, and will be needed up against the in-form Pedro Neto on 25 October.
Sunderland have not won at Stamford Bridge since 2014, but will hope to mark a memorable occasion on Saturday.
Regis Le Bris provides an update on Omar Alderete
Omar Alderete was a doubt for the Wolves clash on Saturday, after suffering a slight muscle injury while on international duty with Paraguay.
Ultimately, though, the defender started the game and earned a clean sheet as Sunderland rode out 2-0 winners.
The 28-year-old has appeared in all eight of the Black Cats’ Premier League fixtures this season so far, and has firmly established himself among Le Bris’ key defenders.
However, speaking on Thursday, the Frenchman confirmed that Sunderland will be without Alderete for the trip to Chelsea.
Le Bris said: “Omar is under concussion protocols. We are hoping to have him back for the Everton fixture“.
How do Sunderland replace ‘one of the best centre-backs’?
Speaking after Alderete’s move to Sunderland had been confirmed, Getafe president Angel Torres told Radio MARCA, in a rant about La Liga’s financial rules, that he “had to sell one of the best centre-backs in La Liga for next to nothing“.
What the 28-year-old has shown in the Premier League so far would suggest that Torres was right to be frustrated.
The defender has scored and assisted already for Sunderland, and has looked seriously impressive on the ball.
Of all centre-backs in the Premier League to have appeared in all eight games so far, none are completing more dribbles per 90 than Alderete.
| Omar Alderete | Premier League 2025-26 |
| Appearances | 8 |
| Blocks | 6 |
| Aerial duels won | 17 |
| Successful crosses | 2 |
| Accurate long balls | 18 |
| Shots | 6 |
And the Paraguay international is completing 83.3 per cent of his passes, too, providing a reliable presence in Le Bris’ backline.
Defensively, Alderete is supreme. He has made 12 tackles, won 36 duels, made 10 interceptions and has been dribbled past just twice.
Sunderland will likely turn to Nordi Mukiele in his absence, moving the Frenchman into the middle and bringing Reinildo back into the team.
Le Bris could even look at bringing Luke O’Nien back, who finally returned to the matchday squad against Manchester United.
But Sunderland will struggle to replicate the presence of Alderete, who has already proven himself among the Premier League’s best this season so far.
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