🎧 'Are Poveda's problems more than just injury?'

Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris cited that there were "many reasons" winger Ian Poveda has missed so much of the season, leaving room to speculate on whether there was more than just injury contributing to the Colombia international's lack of game time.

Poveda has only made six appearances for the Black Cats so far this season and has now been ruled out for at least three weeks on the sidelines.

Although not all Poveda's absences has been due to fitness as the 25-year-old missed out on Sunderland's 2-0 win over Luton Town in February because of an "internal disciplinary matter" whereby he was late for a team get-together.

"For somebody who has missed so much, you'd think he would be absolutely spot on with everything he's doing," former Sunderland striker Martin Smith told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"It makes you question things and what's happened at previous clubs. Sometimes clubs take people on and you get them for a reason because of certain issues at former clubs and you think maybe you can change that.

"But at the minute, it looks like it's not going to happen."

You can listen to the full conversation and more on the Total Sport podcast.