Regis Le Bris Has Major Selection Decision To Make For Manchester City Clash

Sunderland travel to Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon, buoyed by their historic Europa League victory over Eredivisie leaders AZ Alkmaar at the Stadium of Light in midweek.

Sunderland beat AZ Alkmaar 1-0 courtesy of an Enzo Le Fee penalty, who atoned for his missed spot-kick against Arsenal last time out in the league, by coolly dispatching in the same corner that David Raya tipped his effort onto the post.

Regis Le Bris fielded a changed yet strong Sunderland XI against Alkmaar following the Arsenal defeat, with Omar Alderete, Trai Hume, Malick Fofana and Wilson Isidor replacing Dan Ballard, Thomas Meunier, Nilson Angulo and Brian Brobbey respectively.

However, given Reinildo Mandava's late dismissal against Arsenal for a second bookable offence following his late foul on Bukayo Saka, which saw the Englishman convert the penalty he won, Le Bris now has a selection headache at left-back for the trip to the Etihad Stadium this weekend.

Reinildo will therefore be suspended for the visit to Man City, but will return following the international break for the visit of Brighton and Hove Albion on October 10.

In the meantime, Le Bris has multiple options to utilise at left-back, with one seeming most obvious to the Sunderland boss.

Le Bris' standout option for replacing Reinildo would be £25.7m summer signing from Toulouse, Dayann Methalie, who made his debut for Sunderland in the 1-0 Carabao Cup win over Hull City earlier in September.

Methalie played 65 minutes against Hull before being substituted for Meunier, who went on to create the assist for Chemsdine Talbi's breakaway winner, and enjoyed a positive performance in both defence and attack despite some early sloppiness in possession.

The French youth international was signed as the long-term successor to Reinildo's left-back throne at Sunderland, but it remains to be seen whether he has impressed Le Bris enough yet to warrant his first Premier League outing at Man City against the likes of Rayan Cherki, Erling Haaland and their fellow attacking talents.

Aside from Methalie, Le Bris could utilise trademark right-back Hume on the left side of defence as he has done multiple times throughout his Sunderland tenure, given the Northern Ireland international's incredible utility and versatility.

In similar fashion, the Sunderland boss could use veteran defender Meunier at left full-back given his experience, but that would negate his impressive Premier League form on the right side in recent outings.

Given how highly rated summer signing Methalie is, most Black Cats supporters will be hoping to see Le Bris award the 20-year-old his Premier League debut for his side at Man City, with his attributes suited to a back-five formation that Sunderland will likely yield.