Simon Adingra blow now confirmed as Sunderland learn AFCON fate
Simon Adingra will not be participating in this year’s AFCON.
Sunderland host Newcastle on Sunday in the first Wear-Tyne derby in the Premier League since 2016.
After permission was granted, Sunderland will have all of their AFCON competitors available for the clash, with Granit Xhaka and Noah Sadiki also set to play a part after avoiding their fifth yellow card of the season against Man City.
However, it will also be the last encounter before those chosen by their countries will jet off for the competition, but Adingra will not be one of them.
Sunderland will have Simon Adingra available throughout AFCON
It was initially thought that Sunderland would have as many as seven players missing when AFCON gets underway, though that is now down to six.
Adingra has not been named in the Ivory Coast squad, which is a major blow for the former Brighton and Hove Albion winger.
However, for Sunderland, it is a major boost, with Chemsdine Talbi and Bertrand Traore still likely to jet off for the tournament, leaving them with Romaine Mundle as their only other natural winger.
With that said, Adingra’s lack of gametime this season has sparked concern, but with a clear route to the first team soon to emerge, it could be his chance to stake a claim for his place in the side for an extended period of time.
Adingra was crucial to Ivory Coast’s previous AFCON triumph, making his omission strange, even if his form has been below par this season.
What has Regis Le Bris said about AFCON?
Even after the Black Cats’ impressive start to the season, there have been plenty of concerns in regard to their ability to compete while missing several players.
Talbi, Sadiki, Reinildo and Arthur Masuaku are just some of those set for AFCON next week, leaving Sunderland quite bare.
However, Regis Le Bris has continued to deny the claims that the Wearsiders will struggle in this period.
“We have a strong group because we don’t have any injuries. The players who hadn’t played much before will have opportunities to contribute,” the Frenchman said in a recent press conference.
“I trust the quality of this group. The dynamic is really positive. I think they can show that they can contribute, so I’m not too concerned.”
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