Régis Le Bris
Sunderland AFC is gearing up for the final match of their pre-season tour in Portugal as they prepare to face Sporting Lisbon on Monday night. This fixture follows a 1-1 draw against Sevilla, offering the Black Cats another opportunity to fine-tune their squad ahead of the upcoming season. The match against the reigning Portuguese champions promises to be a challenging encounter, providing valuable experience for the team.
Le Bris said: “I think it’s obvious that we can’t waste time. It doesn’t mean that two or three players who played in the second aren’t able to play in the first half [team]. It’s obvious [that they can].”
Le Bris also commented on Romaine Mundle’s injury: “Romaine has had surgery on his hamstring. It’s a real shame because Romaine worked really well through the summer. We decided to go for a conservative treatment, I think it was the best option when the advice from the specialists arrived. But at the end he got this injury after a sprint in a training session and now we have to wait. We don’t have an exact timeframe yet but it will be short [for the start of the season], for sure. We’ll know the full extent a little later.”
The Sunderland squad is expected to feature minimal changes from their previous outing. Nectar Triantis, who missed the Sevilla match, has returned to training and may be available for selection. However, Chris Rigg and Anthony Patterson are likely to sit out due to minor injuries, though there are no long-term concerns regarding their fitness.
Sporting Lisbon, on the other hand, is expected to field a strong lineup, although Viktor Gyokeres will be absent as he is reportedly nearing a move to Arsenal. The Portuguese side’s squad includes notable players such as Matheus Reis, Hidemasa Morita, and Pedro Goncalves, who will pose a significant challenge for Sunderland.
The match is anticipated to draw a considerable crowd, with an extra stand and tier opened to accommodate the fans. Despite being outnumbered, Sunderland supporters are expected to make their presence felt.
As the team prepares for this crucial pre-season test, it will provide an opportunity for Sunderland to assess their readiness for the upcoming season, particularly as they aim to integrate new players and strategies into their setup.
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