Regis Le Bris shares triple Sunderland update after Blackburn defeat
Sunderland suffered their third defeat in as many games on Easter Monday as the club prepares for the Championship play-offs.
April has been far from a successful month for the Black Cats. Indeed, since securing a play-off spot after their 0-0 draw with Norwich City, the club have not won a match and their last victory came five games back, in a 1-0 triumph over West Brom.
While the final few games mean little, fans are still not happy with the results. Many players have received scrutiny, with the departing Tommy Watson coming under fire for his performance against Blackburn.
However, Regis Le Bris has now been able to share some good news after the manager provided a triple injury update going into the final few fixtures.
Le Bris hopeful that Sunderland trio will be fit for playoffs
Throughout this dip in form, Sunderland has been without three of its biggest stars.
Dennis Cirkin, who has become a reliable presence at the back, has been out for over a month, while Romaine Mundle hasn’t featured since Sunderland’s last victory.
On top of this, Dan Ballard has been out since February with a hamstring issue.
However, with the play-offs edging ever closer, Le Bris is hopeful that the trio will all be fit for the semi-finals.
| Championship play-offs | Dates | Kick-off times |
| Semi-final (5th vs 4th) | May 9 | 20:00 |
| Semi-final (4th vs 5th) | May 13 | 20:00 |
| Final | May 24 | TBC |
“For Romaine, I think the time will be too short for these next two games,” Le Bris told the Sunderland Echo (April 22).
“We don’t think he will be ready for those games, but when it comes to the play-offs, we don’t think he will be too far from the team. We will probably have Dennis next week, and then we should have Ballard after the Oxford game. Hopefully, he will be available for the last game (against QPR).”
Sunderland must start building momentum before play-offs
While Sunderland cannot move up or down the table in the remaining matches, they must start picking up results.
The club cannot afford to go into the play-offs without a win in seven matches, especially if they are to play a team in good form.
Le Bris must now ensure that the club returns to winning ways immediately, starting with Oxford United on Saturday.
If the club were to win their next two matches, it would put them in a great position, especially if Ballard and Cirkin get minutes as well.
Le Bris has been warned about taking gambles, and he now needs to play his strongest team to ensure the losing streak comes to an end.