Regis Le Bris Issues Brian Brobbey Injury Update Ahead Of Sunderland Vs Lech Poznan

Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris will not risk striker Brian Brobbey against Lech Poznan in the Europa League on Thursday evening, but has confirmed that the Dutchman should return against Leeds United at the weekend.

Sunderland face Polish champions Lech Poznan on Thursday as the Black Cats look to continue their winning run in the European competition following their comeback win over SCU Torreense last week.

Last time out, Bournemouth beat Sunderland 2-0 in the Premier League on Sunday in a shocking display from Le Bris' side, with Brobbey absent from the squad despite returning to full training with the Black Cats in the build-up to the defeat.

Brobbey ended the pre-international break run of fixtures as Sunderland's top goalscorer after his emphatic hat-trick in the 5-3 defeat at Manchester City, but unfortunately suffered a hamstring strain on national duty for the Netherlands in the first outing of the break, and has been sidelined since.

Despite Brobbey being back in full training for the last ten days, Le Bris has explained why he is taking a cautious approach to the number nine's impending return to red-and-white action.

Ahead of Sunderland's Lech Poznan clash, Le Bris outlined that the Black Cats are cautiously resting Brobbey for the Europa League fixture, so that the bullish frontman will be ready for the momentous top flight visit of rivals Leeds on Sunday.

In his pre-Poznan press conference, Le Bris explained: "Brian (Brobbey) is in a good place. He has trained with the squad for the last 10 days.

Since Brobbey was sidelined during the international break, Sunderland have lost both of their Premier League games against Brighton & Hove Albion and, most recently, Bournemouth 2-0 in two abject displays, with the Black Cats looking uncharacteristically dishevelled in defence and toothless in attack.

Le Bris will be desperate that when Brobbey leads the line for Sunderland for the first time in five weeks, he can not only return to the field fit-again, but continue his goalscoring form that saw him net three against Man City before the break in emphatic fashion.

As well as Brobbey, Le Bris provided an injury update on Thomas Meunier and Wilson Isidor, who both picked up knocks in the defeat to Brighton and are working towards a return to the Sunderland squad soon, but are major doubts for Poznan given that they were in individual training in midweek.

Le Bris added: "Thomas and Wilson are in a good place, and we’ll see if they can be ready soon."

The Sunderland boss also confirmed that centre-back Omar Alderete, who missed the opening training session on Wednesday morning before the squad jetted to Poznan, "is fine" injury-wise and therefore available for selection following his substandard performance against Bournemouth.

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