“It's probably around six weeks for the first diagnosis,” Regis Le Bris said of Habib Diarra's latest setback. Sunderland now have to plan for at least six weeks without him, which makes the Tyne-Wear derby against Newcastle on Sunday, December 6 look much less comfortable from their side.
Le Bris on the setback
Le Bris added that the injury is “a tough one for him” and said Diarra is an important part of the squad. He also said, “We need every player.” That is not just manager-speak. Sunderland are dealing with a player who has already made 4 Premier League appearances and logged only 70 minutes, so the loss comes even though his season has barely got going.
The diagnosis also strips out a midfielder who has played across competitions. Diarra has 1 goal contribution in the Premier League and 6 appearances in all this season, including the Europa League and the League Cup. Against Magpies, the bigger issue is not just the derby itself but the gap between now and then.
A crowded run before the derby
Sunderland's next Europa League match is at home to Dinamo Zagreb on November 5, then Chelsea visit on November 8 before Aston Villa away on November 21. Le Bris called the club's schedule “probably the most demanding challenge the club have ever faced in its history”, with Premier League, Europa League, quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup all in the mix.
He is right to treat the injury as part of a larger squeeze. Sunderland do not have a long injury list, but the ones they do have are serious, with Romaine Mundle and Dan Ballard also sidelined. Diarra's absence will make the next month harder to manage, and the derby at St James' Park now comes with a lot less margin for error.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
