Sunderland will be without five players as they head into their Carabao Cup encounter with Accrington Stanley this week, as reported by the Sunderland Echo.
Three are expected absences, Glenn Loovens, Duncan Watmore and Ethan Robson, but they’re set to be joined by two players who started this weekend’s 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town.
The Black Cats have not begun the season well, being held to two 1-1 draws, at home against Oxford and again at Portman Road. In both instances, they went 1-0 down before fighting back to earn a share of the spoils.
However, they’re now going to be without young full back Denver Hume, and midfielder Dylan McGeouch as they look to find a way past John Coleman’s men.
Accrington opened their season with a 2-0 defeat at Lincoln City, but didn’t have a fixture this weekend after scheduled opponents Bury failed to meet EFL requirements.
That could mean Coleman selects a strong side to gain a little more match fitness, whilst Sunderland are already looking depleted before the season is two weeks old.
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The loss of Hume is perhaps the bigger of the two concerns. McGeouch is an accomplished midfielder but Grant Leadbitter could fill in, that is if Jack Ross takes the competition seriously.
Hume is a left back though and Sunderland have let Bryan Oviedo and Reece James go this summer. The youngster has come under fire from supporters after two weak performances, even being withdrawn at the weekend for tactical reasons. In other words, he was playing badly.
It’s an area of concern for Sunderland, perhaps not the biggest they have but certainly something else for fans to lament.
