Dan Ballard and Eliezer Mayenda could both feature in Sunderland’s home game with Derby County on Tuesday night.
The pair were both absent from Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Watford after being ruled out because of injury issues. Mayenda has been struggling with a muscular issue while Ballard continues to be affected by the ankle injury he sustained in the latter stages of the defeat at Plymouth.
The pair will be reassessed in the next 24 hours, with Regis Le Bris hoping they will be passed fit to be involved in the game with Derby. If they do not make it for Tuesday, they should be available for Friday night’s home game with Leeds United.
“They are injured,” confirmed Le Bris, in the aftermath of Saturday’s defeat at Vicarage Road. “But we’ll see for the next game. Eliezer has a muscle injury, it’s not really serious but we’ll have to see (whether he can face Derby).”
Alan Browne is also a doubt for the Derby game after missing out on the squad at Watford because of an ongoing knee problem.
Having fallen behind against Watford, Sunderland hauled themselves level when Wilson Isidor claimed his first goal since his summer loan move from Zenit St Petersburg.
However, Dan Neil’s concession of a late penalty gave the home side an opportunity to claim all three points, and Tom Dele-Bashiru took it as he converted from the spot.
Neil was left one-on-one against substitute Kwadwo Baah inside the penalty area, and Le Bris felt the concession of the spot-kick was a collective failure rather than an individual mistake from Sunderland’s skipper.
“It is football, mistakes happen,” said the head coach. “But I cannot say we lose the game because of Dan, it is not the truth. I haven’t seen the clip back but I’m sure that he should have more support, it was a long, long one-versus-one situation.
“When we analyse that situation, I know that I will find many reasons to explain why it happened, with other players as well.
“We know there will be reactions after the game, but Dan can play very well in this position (defensive midfield). The second player for this position is Salis (Abdul Samed), but right now he is not available.
“Dan played well in the first game of the season, today there is a mistake, but he has made a good start.”
