Sunderland Predicted Starting XI Vs Brentford As Regis Le Bris Issues Injury Update

Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris has offered an important injury update on Black Cats duo Thomas Meunier and Wilson Isidor ahead of Wednesday’s visit of Brentford in the Carabao Cup fourth round. 

Both full-back Meunier and forward Isidor suffered knocks in Sunderland's 2-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion earlier in October, with the Belgian international forcibly withdrawn in the first half by Le Bris, and have both been on the Sunderland sidelines since that deflating defeat. 

Former Lille defender Meunier has established himself as a consistent starter in Le Bris’ side since arriving as a free agent in the summer, and the absence of his experienced presence has coincided with the Black Cats’ downturn in form. 

Regarding Isidor, his pace and dynamism up-front, whether that be from the start or off the bench, has been a miss for Le Bris over the recent fixtures, especially with the striker’s knock coming at the same as Brian Brobbey’s injury. 

Ahead of Wednesday’s cup clash against Keith Andrews’ side, Le Bris explained that Meunier is in contention to make the midweek matchday squad after being sidelined for Sunderland’s last four fixtures, but the Bees visit may come too soon for Isidor. 

Le Bris told Sunderland’s media: “Probably Thomas (Meunier) will be available coming off the bench. We’ll decide. For Wilson (Isidor), we are on the edge.”

As a result, it will be interesting to see how Le Bris lines Sunderland up against Brentford in the Carabao Cup clash, but there will certainly be changes from Sunday’s goalless stalemate against Leeds United in the Premier League. 

In goal, number two goalkeeper Melker Ellborg could give Robin Roefs a rare rest after the Dutchman’s impressive performance against Leeds at the weekend. 

At the back, Kevin Danso may return to Le Bris’ side for the first time since his dismissal in the 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth earlier this month, alongside Omar Alderete or Luke O’Nien. 

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Trai Hume and Dayann Methalie will likely occupy the full-back positions, with Jules Ahoka, Habib Diarra and Chris Rigg potentially making the central midfield three. 

In attack, Malick Fofana should start after being unused as a substitute against Leeds, with Chemsdine Talbi set to start for Sunderland for the first time since his match-winning performance against Hull City in the previous round. 

Up front, it will be interesting to see whether Le Bris opts for deadline-day signing Juan Riquelme Angulo or youngster Timur Tutierov, with fit-again Brobbey set to be rested for the weekend’s pivotal Premier League trip to Coventry City. 

Sunderland predicted XI against Brentford: Ellborg, Hume, Danso, Alderete, Methalie, Ahoka, Diarra, Rigg, Fofana, Talbi, Tutierov.