Early Sunderland team news ahead of Tyne-Wear derby vs Newcastle United
The latest Sunderland team news ahead of Newcastle United's trip to the Stadium of Light on Sunday.
Newcastle United travel to rivals Sunderland on Sunday in the first Premier League Tyne-Wear derby since 2016.
The two sides are separated by just three places and one point in the table, but the Magpies are catching up quickly, unbeaten in their last four league games and taking 10 points along the way. Sunderland, meanwhile, have won just one of their last six matches and have tasted defeat twice during that time, including a 3-0 beating away at Manchester City last time out. What’s more, the Black Cats will welcome their local rivals with a few injuries and absences to deal with. Here’s the latest Sunderland team news as we move into midweek.
Habib Diarra
Record signing Habib Diarra has played just 347 minutes across four appearances for Sunderland so far. The Senegal international had to undergo surgery to fix a groin issue back in September and hasn’t been on the pitch since.
Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris said last week that this derby clash comes way too soon for Diarra to be considered in the squad. However, reports in France have suggested the 21-year-old could, indeed, be a shock inclusion to the matchday line-up. Even if that happens, it’s hard to see Diarra getting any considerable minutes, and Eddie Howe will likely be planning to face a Sunderland team without him.
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Reinildo
Reinildo has also suffered from a groin injury recently, forcing him to sit out the 3-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium last weekend. However, the left-back has a much clearer prognosis than Diarra and is almost certain to return to the squad against Newcastle.
Trai Hume shifted to the left side against Man City in Reinildo’s absence, while Nordi Mukiele played at right-back, outside of a three-man centre-back line-up of Dan Ballard, Omar Alderete and Lutsharel Geertruida. Should Reinildo be fit to start, he’d likely resume left-back duties, with Hume moving back to the right and Mukiele coming inside to replace either Alderete or Geertruida.
Luke O’Nien
Such a vital player in Sunderland’s promotion campaign, it’s been a different season for Luke O’Nien so far. The 31-year-old has played just three minutes across two substitute appearances so far, with his Premier League debut coming as a last-minute introduction in the 1-1 draw away at Liverpool on 3rd December, where he touched the ball just three times.
O’Nien was once again a late substitute in the 3-0 loss to Man City last week, but just two minutes after coming on, he was shown a late red card for a dangerous challenge on Matheus Nunes. As a result, O’Nien will be suspended for this weekend’s Tyne-Wear derby.
Possible Sunderland XI vs Newcastle United: Roefs; Hume, Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Reinildo; Traore, Xhaka, Sadiki, Le Fee; Isidor.
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