Leeds United will face a Sunderland side woefully out of form on Sunday. However, the Black Cats may have a key player back for the Stadium of Light clash.
Regis Le Bris’ side have lost their last four league games and will face an energy-sapping European clash against Lech Poznan later this evening.
Leeds are seventh in the Premier League and are considered favourites to get a positive result against a Sunderland side struggling to score goals at the moment.
However, Daniel Farke’s team have received an ominous warning as Sunderland will have a big player back in the squad for their huge home game against Leeds on Sunday.
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Regis Le Bris confirms huge team news for Leeds
Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey suffered a hamstring injury while playing for the Netherlands last month, and he was expected to miss the Leeds game.
However, the striker returned to training earlier than expected, and Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris confirmed he’s been training with the squad for a while.
The Sunderland manager won’t risk him against Lech Poznan tonight. But Le Bris said the striker will be ready to join the squad for the Leeds match at the Stadium of Light.
“So Brian is in a good place; he has trained with the squad the last ten days more or less, so knowing that it was a hamstring injury, it’s always important to take care of him and not rush the process, so we are on the way”, Le Bris told reporters on Wednesday.
“He won’t play tomorrow [tonight], that’s obvious, but he should be ready for Leeds.”
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This changes Leeds’ approach for the game
Brian Brobbey’s potential return is a timely boost for Sunderland and something Leeds United must factor into their preparations for Sunday’s trip to the Stadium of Light.
Brobbey offers Sunderland a physical presence up front, making him hard to handle when he holds off defenders and brings teammates into play. Leeds cannot afford to allow him to dictate the game or give him space to turn and attack their backline.
However, his return should not change Leeds’ approach entirely. Farke’s side must remain aggressive, press intelligently and exploit Sunderland’s defensive absences, including Kevin Danso’s suspension.
The key is to defend Brobbey collectively without becoming too cautious. Leeds can capitalise on Sunderland’s difficult start, but they must be disciplined enough to manage the threat his return poses.
