I’m expecting Sunderland and Leeds United to go into Sunday’s Premier League meeting at the Stadium of Light with both managers facing some difficult selection decisions, particularly after a fresh round of injury updates.
The latest reports indicate that as many as 10 players across the two squads are either unavailable or doubts for the fixture. However, I think it is important to make the distinction between confirmed absences and players who could still recover in time.
Sunderland have one definite suspension to deal with, alongside injury concerns over several other players, while Leeds are sweating over the fitness of some particularly important attacking and midfield options.
Here is how I see the latest situation heading into the game.
SUNDERLAND MISS DANSO THROUGH SUSPENSION
The biggest confirmed absence for Régis Le Bris is Kevin Danso.
The Sunderland defender will serve a one-match suspension after being sent off during the 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth last weekend. His dismissal came after he denied a clear goalscoring opportunity, meaning he will not be available against Leeds.
I think that is a significant blow for Sunderland because Danso had established himself as an important part of their defensive structure.
The Black Cats also have two players definitely ruled out through injury.
Romaine Mundle remains sidelined following knee surgery and is not expected back until around the festive period or potentially early 2027. Dan Ballard is another confirmed absentee, with the defender recovering from a hamstring problem and not expected to return until after the November international break.
That already leaves Le Bris with three players unavailable before we even get to the doubts.
TWO MORE SUNDERLAND PLAYERS REMAIN DOUBTS
Thomas Meunier and Wilson Isidor are the other two Sunderland players I’m watching closely.
Meunier is recovering from a hamstring problem and has been training individually. He missed Sunderland’s Europa League trip to Lech Poznan and remains a doubt for the Leeds game.
Isidor has also missed recent matches because of what Le Bris described as a minor injury. He has likewise been training separately and remains questionable for Sunday.
So, from Sunderland’s perspective, I’m looking at five players who could potentially miss the game: Danso, Mundle and Ballard are unavailable, while Meunier and Isidor remain doubts.
There is some positive news, though.
Brian Brobbey is expected to return after recovering from his hamstring problem. The striker trained fully with the team during the week and is reportedly in contention for the matchday squad.
That could be a major boost for Le Bris, particularly given Sunderland’s need for attacking options.
LEEDS FACE THEIR OWN INJURY CONCERNS
Daniel Farke also has plenty to think about.
Joe Rodon remains unavailable with a hamstring injury that has kept him out since August. While he is making progress, he is not expected to be ready for the trip to Sunderland.
Mateo Joseph is another confirmed absentee. The forward continues to recover from a serious knee injury sustained during his loan spell with Mallorca and remains sidelined.
But it is the doubts surrounding some of Leeds’ more prominent first-team players that I think could have the biggest impact.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is the major concern.
The Leeds striker suffered a foot injury during the 1-1 draw with Manchester United last weekend, and Farke confirmed that he had not trained as of Friday. His availability is therefore a major question mark heading into the Sunderland clash.
Considering Calvert-Lewin has been one of Leeds’ most important attacking players this season, I think his potential absence could significantly alter Farke’s plans.
STACH AND OKAFOR ALSO UNDER SCRUTINY
Anton Stach and Noah Okafor are the other two Leeds players whose availability remains uncertain.
Both players missed several training sessions during the week, leaving Farke with decisions to make before naming his final team.
I would therefore put Leeds’ current situation at two confirmed absences — Rodon and Joseph — plus three major doubts in Calvert-Lewin, Stach and Okafor.
That brings the total number of unavailable or doubtful players across the two clubs to 10.
Importantly, I would not describe all 10 as definite absentees. The likes of Meunier, Isidor, Calvert-Lewin, Stach and Okafor could still receive positive fitness updates before kick-off.
DAN JAMES PROVIDES LEEDS WITH SOME GOOD NEWS
There is at least some encouragement for Farke.
Dan James, who has missed recent matches with a back problem, has returned to training and is considered available for selection.
That could prove useful if Calvert-Lewin fails to recover in time.
I also think Leeds will be encouraged by the fact that they have no suspended players for the fixture. Sunderland, by contrast, have already lost Danso to a one-match ban.
THIS COULD COME DOWN TO THE LATE FITNESS CALLS
For me, the biggest storyline heading into Sunderland versus Leeds is not simply the number of players missing, but which of the doubts actually make it through the final fitness checks.
Sunderland have already lost Danso, Mundle and Ballard, while Meunier and Isidor remain uncertain. Leeds know they will be without Rodon and Joseph, but the potential absence of Calvert-Lewin, Stach or Okafor could make Farke’s selection headache considerably worse.
At the same time, Brobbey’s expected return gives Sunderland a much-needed boost, while James being available provides Leeds with another attacking option.
I therefore expect both managers to wait as long as possible before making their final decisions.
With Sunderland desperate to climb off the bottom of the Premier League and Leeds looking to strengthen their position in the upper half of the table, I think these injury updates could have a major bearing on the outcome.
For now, 10 players remain either ruled out or under an injury cloud, but I would expect some of those doubts to be resolved before kick-off at the Stadium of Light.
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