Sunderland still have a few players sidelined, with two of those injured having yet to even make their debut for the club.
Sunderland signed Salis Abdul Samed on loan from RC Lens during the summer transfer window, also signing striker Ahmed Abdullahi on a permanent deal from Gent.
But neither player is yet to feature for the Black Cats owing to injury. And it seems as though both players’ return dates keep on getting pushed back.
Previously, Le Bris said that Samed could feature for Sunderland this month. But now it’s looking more like the New Year before we see the midfielder in action.
Likewise for Ian Poveda, who’s played three times in the Championship this season, and likewise for Abdullahi, who underwent surgery shortly after joining Sunderland.
Meanwhile, fellow summer signing Milan Aleksic is still to make his debut, whilst defenders Jenson Seelt and Aji Alese are also poised for a return in or around the New Year.
Regis Le Bris shares Sunderland injury update and makes January point
Speaking to The Northern Echo, Le Bris said that January could see Samed, Abdullahi, and Poveda all return, and be like new signings for the Black Cats.
He said: “We should have two or three players that haven’t played so far available by January.
“I would like to have Ahmed, Salis and Ian in the team because, so far, we haven’t really been able to see what they can do.
“If these three players are available, then the team should be even stronger. They are players with three different profiles to what we currently have.”
Le Bris then gave an indication towards potential player departures at the Stadium of Light in January.
The Frenchman said: “Then, we will also have to see whether or not we lose other players before January. Hopefully, that will not happen, but we will have to see.”
Also, Le Bris says that Sunderland could be active in the January transfer window, with he and Kristjaan Speakman in transfer dialogues most days now.
Three Sunderland players tipped to leave in 2025 if Black Cats fail to win promotion
There’s a general assumption that Sunderland will do all they can to not sell any players in January and give Le Bris all the tools he needs to earn promotion this season.
But the summer transfer window next year could be quite treacherous, especially if the club doesn’t earn promotion from the Championship.
Speaking to Sunderland AFC News recently, though, transfer expect Graeme Bailey has tipped three players to leave Sunderland in the even of missing out on promotion.
He said, “You can’t lose them all, obviously. I think it’ll depend on the market.
“If they don’t go up, they’ll probably lose two or three. Chris Rigg definitely. [Dan] Ballard probably, and maybe [Trai] Hume.”
But Sunderland, with players returning from injury and players looking, as of now, unlikely to leave in January, could be very well-prepared for the second half of this season, especially if they can add one or two players as well.
