Regis Le Bris reveals Luke O’Nien doubt ahead of Sunderland v Bristol City
Regis Le Bris has suggested that Luke O’Nien is a doubt ahead of the encounter between Sunderland and Bristol City on Tuesday night.
O’Nien has been a mainstay in the Sunderland side and has been key for the Black Cats in what has been a successful campaign so far.
A 2-1 win against Stoke on Saturday (7 December) put the Black Cats straight back into contention, knowing a win against Bristol City on 10 December could send them to the summit of the Championship.
However, they may have to do that without O’Nien, with Le Bris revealing in his pre-match press conference that an illness bug has taken its toll on Wearside.
As quoted by the Northern Echo [9 December], he said: “I don’t know with Luke right now, whether or not he will be available. But for the others, they are available.”
Luke O’Nien absence would be a huge blow for Sunderland
O’Nien has been one of the Black Cats’ best players this season and the level of consistency in his performances has been a key component to why he is almost undroppable.
His ability on the ball has been key to the style of play adopted by Le Bris, with no other defender capable of shadowing those attributes.
Dan Ballard will likely partner the returning Chris Mepham after the latter served a one-match ban for a red card received in the Wearsiders’ defeat at Sheffield United, in which Patrick Roberts missed a penalty.
It should still be enough defensive know-how to see a result against Bristol City but the Mackems may have to slightly adapt their way of playing out from the back in his absence.
Albeit depending on other results, Sunderland can move back to the top of the Championship if they win on Tuesday night and maintain their unbeaten home run.
In other Sunderland news, Amy Goddard reacted to her first goal for the club.
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