Sunderland Round-Up, Thursday 8th October: Xhaka Handed Suspended Fine Over Covid Certificate as Le Bris Issues Injury Updates Before Brighton
Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka has confirmed the outcome of the investigation into his Covid-19 vaccine certificate, revealing he has been given a suspended fine of 150,000 Swiss francs (around £136,000) after admitting the certificate was forged (Sunderland Echo) (Chronicle Live) (BBC Sport).
Ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash with Brighton, head coach Régis Le Bris has given updates on several fitness concerns, with news on Brian Brobbey, Habib Diarra and Dan Ballard among those discussed (Sunderland Echo) (Chronicle Live). Pundit Kevin Phillips has weighed in on Ballard's potential spell on the sidelines, insisting whoever steps in will be "massive" for the side (Sunderland Echo). Brighton, meanwhile, are reportedly set to welcome back six key players for the visit to Sunderland, which could make for a tougher test than expected (Sunderland Echo).
There was more positive talk on the international front too, with Phillips suggesting Le Bris will be "delighted" with how the break has gone for Xhaka and Enzo Le Fée (Sunderland Echo). A separate assessment praised Trai Hume's busy spell with Northern Ireland, with one pundit pointing to his "robustness" as a potential asset for Le Bris going forward (Sunderland Echo). Elsewhere, the Guardian's wider look at international-break injuries across the Premier League and Europe touched on the likes of Havertz, Isak and Dorgu, highlighting the toll the extended break has taken on top clubs generally (The Guardian).
Looking ahead to Europe, Chris Rigg has opened up on how the Sunderland dressing room reacted to being drawn against AC Milan in the Europa League, and had a light-hearted admission about his dad's plans to join the trip to Italy (Sunderland Echo).
Off the pitch, Sunderland are reportedly closing in on a significant new appointment as part of an ongoing period of change behind the scenes, with a potential name already being linked to the role (Sunderland Echo).
In other news, former Sunderland striker Fabio Borini has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 35, releasing an emotional statement to mark the end of his playing career (Sunderland Echo).
At academy level, Sunderland's U21s suffered a 2-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in midweek, though there were some individual performances that caught the eye despite the result (Sunderland Echo).
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