Sunderland endure bittersweet team news as Alan Browne and Dan Ballard discussed for Middlesbrough
Sunderland have revealed some bittersweet team news for their clash with Middlesbrough at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
Regis Le Bris addressed the media ahead of the weekend’s Wear-Tees contest, and claimed via the club’s official X page [19 September] Dan Ballard is expected to be fit to feature, but Alan Browne will “need another week”.
Republic of Ireland international Browne was spotted sporting a knee brace earlier this week whilst attending a supporter event with his fellow summer signings, sparking discourse on how long he could be sidelined.
The Northern Echo reported [18 September] that Browne remained a doubt for the weekend after he confirmed the brace was merely a precaution.
Sunderland aim to get back on track v Middlesbrough
Sunderland must dust themselves down and quickly, although the way the fans have processed last weekend’s agonising defeat by Plymouth Argyle has been pretty admirable.
There was certainly an air of confidence heading into the game at Home Park that the three points would be secured, but the fanbase and squad alike are assessing the bigger picture, and that is that the Black Cats have scooped 12 points from five games and sit second in the Championship.
Middlesbrough, sat in 10th, will provide a stern test – they took a 4-0 win back down the A19 from Wearside last season and will smell blood again, pursuing their own promotion push under Michael Carrick.
Regis Le Bris – for most an unknown quantity as he arrived from French side Lorient – has got a tune out of an exciting crop of youngsters as appears to have the senior players onside, making for a positive dressing room dynamic.
Sunderland look like they believe they can win every single game, and that is a key ruthless ingredient for the trickier tests of the campaign after last term’s whimpering 16th-place finish.
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