Anthony Patterson is set to miss Sunderland’s trip to QPR in the Championship, with a foot injury. Head coach Regis Le Bris confirmed the goalkeeper would be out for “five days, maybe a week maximum, which means Simon Moore will deputise for a second time after making his debut in the 2-0 win against Oxford United.
Le Bris confirmed in a press conference that forward Eliezer Mayenda is now ready to play and that Dan Ballard remains sidelined but should return to training.
On Patterson, Le Bris said: “We have to wait. It’s not too serious. But it depends on the pain he can feel and the discomfort he can have on the pitch. So at the minute he can’t train but it could be five days or one week maximum I think. It could be earlier, we don’t know.
“It’s an unusual injury so it depends on his feelings, and he wasn’t able to train on Thursday morning for example, but maybe next week it will be possible. Eliezer is okay and ready to play but for Ballard he will train Friday [today] and is very close to the group now.
“With Eliezer it’s a new story and we spoke together. He did very well in the first part of the season. Now we have Wilson [Isidor] and Alan [ and did very well for us. Now Wilson and now Aaron. We trust Eliezer and it’s good for me and good for the team to have that level on the pitch.”
Competition for places is key to Sunderland’s success and Le Bris explained: “I think it’s healthy because for everyone, you can feel that if you are involved and there is someone behind you to play, that’s good for the team and good for them as well.
“From a human perspective and high-level perspective you always need competition. So we have to find the right level. If it’s too much some of the players won’t be involved and we lose them but at this moment it’s not the case.
“I think they are doing well and you can see it during the training sessions. There is the right level of frustration when you don’t play and you know its possible and not the right moment. And the player on the pitch knows he has to be at his best level, So it’s good for the team.”
Le Bris is still determining the identity of his team and he explained: “It’s a long journey and we don’t know how this identity will evolve. Because it depends on our players. The link they can create together and the opposition as well. And the scenario of the season but the main point is the willingness to improve and to keep this mindset every day.
“Even after a very good period we had last week. It’s very easy for a head coach to find many elements in the game we need to improve. Even though against Oxford we won we didn’t use our mistakes and weaknesses because we have weaknesses like every team.
“For that game it was okay. If you repeat those kinds of behaviours then for sure that can be a problem later. It’s our main focus. Obviously the dynamic is good but it is still the beginning of the season and we know the Championship is very long. That is our concern at the minute.”
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