Sunderland are closely monitoring the condition of winger Romaine Mundle as they prepare for Saturday’s Championship play-off final clash with Sheffield United.
Mundle, 21, returned from a five-week hamstring layoff to feature as a substitute during extra time in the dramatic semi-final win over Coventry City. However, the promising attacker has not trained since and remains a major doubt for the showpiece final at Wembley.
Black Cats Sweat on Mundle Fitness as Wembley Final Looms
Head coach Régis Le Bris has not ruled Mundle out entirely and is expected to give him every opportunity to prove his fitness in the coming days. With two separate hamstring injuries this season, caution remains the priority.
In Mundle’s absence, Le Bris deployed Enzo Le Fée on the left wing across both legs of the semi-final and the Frenchman is once again on standby to deputise if needed.
“Mundle will be given every chance to feature and could yet be involved should he be able to step up his training in the days leading up to Wembley,” local sources reported.
Sunderland are also keeping a close eye on Patrick Roberts, who completed 90 minutes in the second leg against Coventry despite managing a minor calf complaint. Meanwhile, Aji Alese is pushing to be part of the squad and could return to full training this week.
Sheffield United Duo Return
For opponents Sheffield United, boss Chris Wilder delivered a more positive bulletin during his pre-match press conference on Tuesday. Both Ben Brereton Díaz and Femi Seriki—absent from their semi-final victories over Bristol City—are back in contention following illness and injury respectively.
“Physically we’ve got everybody available, which is fantastic news,” Wilder said. “They’re all putting their hand up to play… I don’t think we could have prepared any better.”
The stage is now set for a highly anticipated final between two clubs looking to return to the Premier League. With both sides battling injury concerns and managing tight turnarounds, the final selections could prove decisive in who claims the final promotion spot.
Writer’s View
Romaine Mundle’s situation encapsulates the risks and rewards of play-off football. Sunderland will be desperate to have him available—his pace and unpredictability offer a unique threat, especially in a high-pressure environment like Wembley. But Le Bris must weigh that value against the risk of aggravating a recurring injury.
Enzo Le Fée has proved a capable alternative, but Mundle’s absence would undeniably alter Sunderland’s approach. With Sheffield United arriving close to full strength, the Black Cats may need all the firepower they can muster to secure promotion.
