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Sunderland vs Brighton: Injury News and Predicted Lineups

Sunderland vs Brighton

Last Word on Football brings you the latest team news and predicted lineups ahead of the Sunderland vs Brighton Premier League clash on Saturday. After a three week internaional break, players, staff, and especially fans will be eager to get back to league action. However, due to the break, there have been injuries to key players while they were away with their countries.

The Black Cats have had a tough start to the current campaign and are currently 14th. However, two of their opening five games were against reigning champions Arsenal and Manchester City. They did get off to a winning start to the Europa League campaign, beating AZ Alkmaar. Brighton, on the other hand, have started the season brightly, and were scoring goals for fun before the break. 11 in their last three games sees them currently sit third in the table.

Date: Saturday, 10th October 2026

Venue: Stadium of Light

Kick-off: 15:00 GMT

Last meeting: Sunderland 0-1 Brighton (14th March, 2026, Premier League)

Referee: Thomas Bramall

Current odds: Sunderland 2/1, Draw 5/2, Brighton 5/4

Sunderland Team News

Sunderland will be without three players for this game, two being ruled out due to injuries sustained during the international break. Striker Brian Brobbey is out with a hamstring injury; however, he is expected to be back within the next week. The hamstring injury to defender Dan Ballard is unfortunately more serious, and it is likely to keep him out until at least after the next international break in November.

Elsewhere, the Black Cats will still be without midfielder Habib Diarra, but he is back in training and could be available for selection as soon as next weekend.

In better news, fullback Reinildo is back and available for selection following his suspension.

“We tried to make the most of the international break – it enabled us to think deeper and a bit differently.”

Regis Le Bris

Brighton Team News

Premier League Manager of the Month Fabian Hurzeler gave an update on his squad during his press conference on Friday. He said, “Lewis Dunk will be back, Jack Hinshelwood trained this week. But we have to see if it makes sense to include him in the squad this weekend, because the next weeks will be busy with games, so it’s about managing the players. But overall, these two players are available.

“Yankuba Minteh, Mats Wieffer, and Kaoru Mitoma are getting closer; they’re not fit yet. Hopefully, we see them back in the squad soon. Stefanos Tzimas is doing well, but it’s still too early. Evan Ferguson is similar – we have to wait some more weeks. Yasin Ayari is available.”

“We have to set up into the game and understand that it is a fight”

Fabian Hurzeler

Sunderland vs Brighton Predicted Lineups

Sunderland

Roefs

Mukiele

Danso

Alderete

Reinildo

Xhaka

Sadiki

Meunier

Angulo

Le Fee

Isidor

Brighton

Verbruggen

Kadioglu

Vuskovic

Dunk

Boscagli

Gross

Ayari

Gomez

Yalcouye

De Cuyper

Kostoulas

The Last Word

The international break probably came at the wrong time for Brighton as the Seagulls were flying before the league stopped for three weeks. The Black Cats, on the otherhand may have welcomed the break, having had some tough games and a return to European competition in the first few weeks of the season. Both teams will be missing key players, but both have strong squads, and those who come in will want to impress.

Another sold out Stadium of Light is expected, and Brighton may find this their toughest test so far. However, the Black Cats looked vulnerable in defence in the last game despite finding their shooting boots in a 5-3 defeat at Manchester City. The Seagulls will fancy their chances, but if the Black Cats’ defence stays solid, they could pick up the three points.

Prediction: Sunderland 3-2 Brighton