Sunderland’s Régis Le Bris on Leeds’ Form in Pre-Match Presser

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Sunderland head coach Régis Le Bris spoke to the media before his side’s match against Lech Poznań, with the Premier League game against Leeds United at the Stadium of Light on Sunday 25 October (kick-off 4.30pm) also on the agenda. The main theme was the fitness of Brian Brobbey, who Le Bris said will be ready for the Leeds game.

Sunderland are 20th in the table with 4 points from 7 matches, while Leeds are seventh with 10 points. Stuart Attwell is the referee for the Matchweek 8 fixture.

Brobbey in line to face Leeds

“He will not play tomorrow [against Lech Poznan], that is obvious, but he should be ready for Leeds United.”

What he said

Le Bris ruled Brobbey out of the Lech Poznań game and named the Leeds match as the target for his return. Brobbey is one of two Sunderland absences in the facts provided, with a hamstring injury. Romaine Mundle is the other, with a knee injury.

What he meant

Le Bris called it “obvious” that Brobbey would not play against Lech Poznań, so the Leeds game is the one he has in mind. His wording, “should be ready”, stops short of a guarantee.

Sunderland have scored 6 league goals in 7 matches and failed to score against Brighton and Bournemouth, so the return of a squad player matters to him.

No rush with the hamstring

“Brian is in a good place, he has trained with the squad the last 10 days more or less, so knowing that it was an hamstring injury it is always important to take care of him and not rush the process, so we are on the way,”

What he said

Le Bris said Brobbey has trained with the squad for around 10 days. He added that the club is taking care over the hamstring problem and not rushing the recovery.

What he meant

The emphasis on not rushing suggests Sunderland will use the match against Lech Poznań to protect Brobbey. Training with the squad for 10 days shows he is back in group work, which supports Le Bris’s view that the Leeds game is a realistic target.

Brobbey “will be ready”

“With a hamstring injury, it is important not to rush. He won’t play tomorrow, but he will be ready for Leeds.”

What he said

In a second answer on Brobbey, Le Bris repeated that he will not play against Lech Poznań. This time he said Brobbey “will be ready” for Leeds.

What he meant

The two answers on Brobbey point the same way, though one says “should” and the other “will”. Both set out the same plan, which is to miss one game and be available for the next league fixture.

Meunier and Isidor close

“Thomas and Wilson are in a good place, and we’ll see if they can be ready soon.”

What he said

Le Bris also gave an update on Thomas Meunier and Wilson Isidor. He said both are “in a good place” and that Sunderland will see whether they can be ready soon.

What he meant

He gave no date for either player, so their availability for Leeds is not confirmed. The wording suggests he is hopeful rather than certain. Sunderland have won 1 of 7 league games, so any additional options would help.

Confidence check: Measured

Le Bris sounded calm and measured. His answers were about managing his squad carefully, and he said nothing about Leeds or the table. On Brobbey he repeatedly stressed not rushing, and he gave no firm timeline for Meunier and Isidor.

The league record explains why. Sunderland are 20th, with 6 goals scored and 14 conceded, and have lost four of their last five league games. They drew 1-1 away to Lech Poznań on 22 October after a 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth four days earlier.

Leeds have lost once in 7 league matches, with 4 draws, and have conceded 6 goals. Their absences are Mateo Joseph (cruciate ligament tear) and Joe Rodon (hamstring injury). Le Bris’s mood reads as measured, with returning players as his main source of optimism.

How to watch

Sunderland vs Leeds kicks off at 4.30pm UK time on Sunday 25 October, live on Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Sports Main Event, NOW. Subscribers can stream it on Sky Go, NOW.

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