Big Sunderland injury boost ahead of Leeds United clash but surprise training absence raises question
Leeds United’s weekend opponents have received a timely injury boost.
Sunderland have been handed a big potential injury boost ahead of Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Leeds United.
Daniel Farke’s side head to the Stadium of Light looking to take advantage of their host’s difficult start to the campaign. Sunderland have only won once in the Premier League and currently sit bottom of the table on four points from seven games.
Before hosting Leeds, the Black Cats travel to Polish outfit Lech Poznan in the Europa League and held an open training session before their flight on Wednesday. And previously absent striker Brian Brobbey was involved in training in a big potential boost.
Brobbey suffered a hamstring injury while away on international duty with the Netherlands last month. The physical striker was an unused substitute during Sunderland's Europa League win over Torreense last week but was back out of the squad at Bournemouth last weekend.
Speaking after the game, a 2-0 defeat, head coach Regis Le Bris said of Brobbey: “We decided not to rush the process... He is in a good place and has trained with the squad all week, but after a hamstring injury, it is still important to stay cautious. We have delayed his game time a little bit, but probably next week we will see him if everything is going right.”
With Wilson Isidor also injured, Sunderland had been starting untried 21-year-old Timur Tutyerov upfront with Brobbey a big miss. The Dutchman will continue to be carefully managed but could now be involved against Leeds on Sunday.
But there was an unexpected Black Cats absence, with the Sunderland Echo reporting that Omar Alderete was not involved in the open session. The centre-back didn’t appear to have picked up an injury against Bournemouth but did have a poor game.
Sunderland already have defensive issues to manage ahead of the weekend. On-loan Tottenham Hotspur man Kevin Danso is suspended after his red card at Bournemouth while fellow centre-back Dan Ballard is injured.