Sunderland are in the midst of a major injury crisis, and it doesn't get any better for manager Regis Le Bris as he prepares for Bournemouth.
The Black Cats' debut Premier League season has been one of the feel-good stories of the campaign.
Regis-Le-Bris
Le Bris has taken a newly promoted side, moulded them into a disciplined, hard-working unit, and built something that Wearside supporters have genuinely been able to believe in.
12th in the table, 36 points from 27 games, 11 clear of the bottom three. For a club that spent years in the wilderness of the Championship, this has been a remarkable achievement.
But the last few weeks have been rougher.
Three defeats on the spin — 3-0 at Brentford, 3-1 at West Ham and 3-0 at Arsenal — followed by back-to-back home losses to Liverpool and Fulham. Five defeats in the last six Premier League games.
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Sunderland's expensive summer has put them in a strong position to retain their new Premier League status.
The optimism around Wearside has not evaporated, but the gloss has faded.
Saturday's trip to Bournemouth, who are unbeaten in the league since early January and eyeing European football, is another difficult proposition.
Away from home, Sunderland have been woeful — just two wins from 13 road trips, only six goals scored, and they have shipped three goals in each of their last three away outings.
Le Bris will at least have Granit Xhaka available after the captain came off the bench against Fulham, and the Swiss midfielder's return to the starting lineup should provide some much-needed authority and control.
Xhaka-Sunderland
Wilson Isidor is ready to lead the line if needed, and Chemsdine Talbi offers a live wire option from wide areas.
There is quality in this squad. The table does not lie — this has been a very good first season back in the top flight.
But Sunderland are heading into the Vitality Stadium short of numbers. Already missing Dennis Cirkin with a thigh problem, Reinildo Mandava out with a knee injury, and Bertrand Traoré nursing a knock of his own, the injury list was already testing Le Bris's squad depth.
Now it has grown considerably worse.
Romain Mundle and Jocelin Ta Bi facing Sunderland surgery
Le Bris confirmed ahead of the Bournemouth game that Nordi Mukiele is sidelined with a calf injury expected to keep him out for between two and four weeks.
Nordi-Mukiele
Brian Brobbey, the club's top scorer and the man responsible for a third of their meagre away goals this season, is out for the same period with a groin problem.
Losing Brobbey alone is a significant blow for a side already struggling to find the net on the road. His presence, hold-up play and nose for goal have been central to everything Sunderland do when they are at their best.
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But the most concerning updates concern two players whose situations remain unresolved — and they are far more worrying.
Romaine Mundle, the electric winger who has been one of the brightest attacking sparks in the Sunderland squad this season, is out with a hamstring injury.
Le Bris confirmed he will be missing for "a few weeks" at minimum — but with the caveat that if surgery is required, the timeline will be significantly longer.
romaine-mundle-sunderland-everton
And then there is Jocelin Ta Bi.
The midfielder suffered an ankle injury against Fulham, and the club are awaiting further information on the severity of the damage — with surgery a real possibility for him as well.
Two players, two potential operations.
For a squad already stretched thin, the implications could be far-reaching. If either or both end up going under the knife, Le Bris will be managing with a patchwork group for a considerable stretch of the run-in.
Sunderland are safe. The season has been a success, but this injury crisis has arrived at exactly the wrong time, and Saturday at Bournemouth just got a whole lot harder.
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