Sunderland

Image source, Rex Features

Sunderland defender Dennis Cirkin has withdrawn from the England Under-21 squad for their two upcoming friendly matches.

The full-back received his first call-up to Lee Carsley's squad for games against France on Friday and Portugal next Monday.

Cirkin was substituted in the second half of the Black Cats' Championship defeat by Coventry City last weekend and will remain at the Stadium of Light for treatment on a hamstring injury.

England have replaced Cirkin with Ronnie Edwards, who is on loan at Sunderland's Championship rivals QPR from Southampton.

Nick Barnes
BBC Radio Newcastle's Sunderland commentator

Image source, Rex Features

For a 19-year-old, Eliezer Mayenda is having an exceptional season, as are Sunderland as a team and I think undoubtedly that is helping him find his feet and his confidence.

The development of Mayenda this season is on a par with Jobe Bellingham last season.

We didn't see much of Mayenda last season as he was on loan at Hibernian and was very much a fringe player when he was back at the club, but he's been involved this season and we have seen him score some terrific goals.

You have also got to factor in that for a player of 19, from Spain, he has driven himself to learn English, to learn from his experience in Scotland and not let that affect his ambitions to break into the first team this season.

He has an explosive finish and a physicality because he is strong, big and stocky and when you see him on the ball he can hold it up and hold off players.

He has had an impact both as a substitute and when he has started games so I think we are only going to see Mayenda get better and better.

The only question now is could he make the step up to the Premier League? Probably at this stage of his career that is asking a lot, but he has also proved the project at Sunderland is working.

Mayenda is stepping up to become a homegrown striker and it does look like this development pattern is a two or three-year cycle.

Players that are coming through this system are taking one or two years to succeed and boss Regis Le Bris has spoken about the first season for these young players being a bit of a struggle. But if they work hard, are committed and listen, that path is seemingly working.

The problem is they need to get the numbers through to back up what might possibly happen this summer if Sunderland do not get promoted.

If that happens, players will leave and they need those players coming through to replace them and that's the next stage in the project.

Image source, Rex Features

The decision to play Alan Browne as a winger in Sunderland's 3-0 defeat by Coventry was "absolutely bizarre", according to former Black Cats striker Marco Gabbiadini.

Regis Le Bris' side enter the international break with three defeats from their past six matches but are safely in fourth place in the Championship table.

Browne, traditionally a central midfielder, was introduced for Patrick Roberts 12 minutes from time at the CBS Arena.

"It truly was an awful performance and they got exactly what they deserved but I was quite shocked at the substitutions," Gabbiadini told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"It was a game that was attritional, about getting to the ball first - why Alan Browne didn't get on the field earlier I've no idea and when he does come on he plays as a winger which is absolutely bizarre."

Sunderland's next game is not until 29 March when they host Millwall and Gabbiadini will be looking for a big improvement from Saturday's loss.

"We've seen ourselves through games like this in the past but you have to play very well and play very good football to play around teams like that and we got nowhere near it," he added.

"Usually when a manager leaves a team it's because he's underperformed - Mike Dodds left Sunderland to take on the managership of Wycombe Wanderers.

"I still think Regis Le Bris is fantastic, I'm sure the backroom team are great and I still think we've got a brilliant squad but when somebody has been there for four years and has been a really important and instrumental part to the club..."

With Sunderland's automatic promotion hopes taking a blow of late, Black Cats fan Helen discusses with former Sunderland defender Gary Bennett if the departure of assistant head coach Mike Dodds could be the reason for a dip in form.

Dodds had been a consistent presence at the club since arriving in 2021, including three spells as interim boss, before he was named as head coach of League One outfit Wycombe Wanderers last month.

In the six weeks since his departure, the Black Cats have won four, drawn two and lost three Championship games.

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

Image source, PA Media

Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris spoke to BBC Radio Newcastle after his side were beaten 3-0 at Coventry City.

"Coventry were good, very good. They were intense, with the ability to create chances though different ways," he said.

"We were prepared for that tactically, but on the pitch it wasn't possible because our intensity wasn't high enough.

"We were not good in duels, to second balls and we had many turn-overs so we didn't control anything.

"So it's a bad afternoon, but at the same time it is a good reminder for us because this league is tough and we have strong opponents to face. It showed that when we are at that level we are punished."

Former Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini says that ending the season in an automatic promotion spot will be asking a lot of the young Black Cats squad.

"You can tell that they have that outside thought that they can break into the top two, but it will be a big ask from where they are at the moment," Gabbiadini told BBC Radio Newcastle.

Sunderland are currently eight points behind second-placed Sheffield United and six below Burnley in third.

And Gabbiadini sees the benefit of the Black Cats entering a play-off scrap for promotion.

"Anyone can win a play-off. It's a shootout and anything can happen," he said.

"There's so many scenarios that it's going to be an exciting end to the season.

"I hope the lads get what they deserve and they do deserve a crack at a play-off final. I think that would be a big highlight for them and above expectations."

You can listen to Gabbiadini's full thoughts and more on the Total Sport podcast.

Play off contenders Coventry City and Sunderland meet on Saturday (15:00 GMT) for three huge points at the top end of the table.

The visitors are a healthy three points clear of the Sky Blues in sixth, but are seven adrift of the top two and are looking to end the season strong.

While Coventry conceded a shock defeat to relegation-threatened Derby County last time out to see their five-game winning streak come to an end.

The loss has put them in striking distance of Bristol City and Middlesbrough, with the Robins having the chance to go ahead on Friday.

• The last nine league meetings between Coventry and Sunderland have alternated between a draw and a victory for Coventry; the game earlier this season ended 2-2.

• Sunderland are winless in their last 11 league visits to Coventry (D5 L6); their last win on the road against the Sky Blues came at Highfield Road in April 1985 in the top-flight.

• Coventry City have won seven of their last nine home league matches (D1 L1), winning each of their last three in a row. They last had a longer home winning run between May and October 2021 (seven wins).

• Sunderland have won three of their last four away league games (L1), as many as they won in their previous 12 away games combined (W3 D5 L4).

• Bobby Thomas has scored in each of his last three home league appearances for Coventry, scoring three times in total. He'd only scored twice in his first 35 games at the Coventry Building Society Arena for the Sky Blues.

Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris says his team will need to be at their best if they are to sustain their promotion challenge.

Four of the Black Cats' nine remaining league games are against teams currently in the top 10 - they face fellow play off contenders Coventry City on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

"These games are so tight, so difficult, that if we are not in our best shape, we will fail," Le Bris told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"It's very important to build strong momentum in this last month and I think it's possible.

"Sometimes we can forget that this team has done very well so far, obviously it's a young team, the youngest in the league.

"The last month we've had ups and downs but we reacted well and I hope it will be the case for the last month."

However, while the Frenchman is looking at how best to improve the sides' play off prospects, he has not yet written his side into them.

"We are not yet in the play-offs," Le Bris added.

"If we are too relaxed, it will be a disaster, so our specific ambition is to be at our top.

"It's not behind us, it's ahead of us, so we have something to chase."

Listen to Le Bris' full press conference and more on the Total Sport podcast.

"You can see Wilson Isidor, he's disappointed. I think he'll be disappointed with his all-around play because, for me, he struggled to get into the game."

"The automatic promotion place is slipping away and for me the biggest question is - Mayenda or Wilson Isidor?"

With both Burnley and Sheffield United taking just one point in their respective matches on Tuesday, are these the kinds of opportunities Sunderland can't afford to miss?

Simon Pryde and Nick Barnes are joined by former Sunderland defender Gary Bennett to discuss their draw against Preston North End and whether boss Regis Le Bris' decision to take off Eliezer Mayenda over Isidor cost them a much needed win.

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

Sunderland defender Trai Hume says Preston North End's time-wasting tactics helped spur the Black Cats on to grab their equaliser in Tuesday's 1-1 draw.

Several North End players went to ground following Emil Riis' opening strike, with the crowd growing increasingly frustrated.

However, Hume says that the stop-start second half helped lift the energy in the ground and led to Romaine Mundle's late leveller.

"You kind of expect it but they did go to the extreme. They had about four or five players that went down," Hume told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"The fans got up from it and we pushed on and ended up getting the equaliser so it kind of helped us in a way. It's not ideal but it's what teams do when they come and play against us."

Mundle's curled shot gave the Black Cats a point but having wasted several chances, particularly in the first half, the Wearside club will feel a big opportunity to close on the top three went begging.

Both Burnley and Sheffield United also only managed a point on Tuesday, with Leeds United looking to gain ground on Wednesday when they host Millwall.

"We thought we could have come away with three points, and you look at the other results and you realise they've drew, but it could have been worse - they could have won," Hume added.

"You've got to think of it as a positive but obviously, we are frustrated we didn't get the three points."

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

Image source, Getty Images

Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris said his side struggled to deal with Preston North End's direct play during their 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light.

The Black Cats rescued a point through Romaine Mundle's superb strike late on after Emil Riis put the visitors ahead.

Le Bris said Preston made life difficult for his side with their willingness to get the ball forward quickly.

"I think we started OK. It was 4-4-2, a little bit different. We needed some adjustments to find the right dynamic," Le Bris told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"It worked well, we created chances and should have scored before. We struggled a bit against their direct play, it is not easy to press.

"Our block was open and they kept the ball close to our box and were able to create chances from nothing from direct play."

But Le Bris was pleased with Sunderland's character and is refusing to give up on the promotion race despite a seven-point gap to the automatic spots.

"It was a good reaction, another point in the race. The league is long and we'll keep going."

Sunderland midfielder Jobe Bellingham is rumoured to have caught the eye of Premier League side Chelsea - but not everyone believes it would be a good move for the teenager.

Former Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini says a move to Stamford Bridge could end up working against Bellingham, with the Blues already harbouring a huge squad filled with expensive players.

"As soon as you say Chelsea, alarm bells start ringing for me. How many players have gone there and it's just not worked out?" Gabbiadini told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"Please, whatever you do, don't go there. If you are going to leave Sunderland, don't go there."

Chelsea is not the only side Gabbiadini believes Bellingham should think twice about joining, preferring a move for the 19-year-old that would echo his older brother Jude.

The elder Bellingham moved from Birmingham City to German titans Borussia Dortmund before joining current side Real Madrid.

Gabbiadini believes that the Bundesliga would be an easier step in the midfielder's development due to smaller squad sizes and lower transfer spends - a move that proved fruitful for his England international sibling.

"It's a Premier League problem," he added. "He's been playing brilliantly, he's really great to watch and you can understand why teams are interested in him.

"But does he want to be playing in Premier League football yet? It's a big step but you want to get it right."

You can listen to Gabbiadini's full thoughts and more on the Total Sport podcast.

Image source, Rex Features

Former Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini believes recent criticism of Black Cats keeper Anthony Patterson isn't warranted.

But is it?

Patterson was at fault for Pascal Struijk's late winner in the defeat by Leeds United, before his own goal against Hull City.

Is he a weak link that needs to be addressed?

Or, as Gabbiadini has suggested, is he the scapegoat for a lack of aerial presence in the squad?

Let us know your thoughts here.

Former Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini says he is "sick of" criticism of Black Cats keeper Anthony Patterson.

The England Under-21's international has come under scrutiny after recent errors led to the teams's first back-to-back defeats of the season, conceding an own goal against relegation-threatened Hull City after playing a part in Leeds' late winning goal in the previous match.

"What's been wrong with his performances?" Gabbiadini said on BBC Radio Newcastle.

"The second goal at Leeds, maybe he's made a mistake there. But look, he's made some fantastic saves in these games."

Gabbiadini believes Sunderland's lack of aerial presence is a more significant problem.

"Teams put the ball in the mixer because we don't have the aerial power," he explained.

"They are putting it in there because we've got somebody like Patrick Roberts at the near post. For me, you might as well send him up the field.

"People want Patterson to come and dominate the box and catch everything. The trouble with that is what happened on Saturday

"He came a long way off his line and the ball is put past in the back of the net from behind him."

You can listen to Gabbiadini's full thoughts and more on the Total Sport podcast.

Preston North End will look to put an end to their five game winless league streak as they make the trip to Sunderland on Tuesday (19:45 GMT).

The Lilywhites narrowly lost to boss Paul Heckingbottom's former side Sheffield United on the weekend to see themselves without a win in the Championship since defeating Norwich City on 11 February (D3 L2).

Sunderland, however, have won their past two games to remain within eight points of the top two and are now 15 points clear of seventh-placed Bristol City in the play-off places.

The Black Cats drew at Preston in a goalless reverse fixture back in November.

• Sunderland have won just two of their last 10 league games (D3 L5) against Preston North End, though one victory came in this exact fixture last season (2-0).

• Preston North End have won just two of their last 23 away league games against Sunderland (D13 L8), though those two wins have come across their last four visits to the Stadium of Light.

• Only Leeds United (2.30) and Burnley (2.27) have averaged more points per game across midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) Championship games this season than Sunderland, with the Black Cats averaging 2.11 per game (P9 W5 D4).

• Only Burnley (25) and Leeds United (23) have earned more points in midweek games (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) in the Championship this season than Preston (20), with the Lilywhites losing just one of their 11 such games in 2024-25 (W5 D5).

• In his managerial career, Preston's Paul Heckingbottom has never lost a league game against Sunderland in six matches (W4 D2) with four different clubs (Barnsley, Leeds United, Sheffield United, Preston).

Image source, Rex Features

Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris has been speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle ahead of the Black Cats' Championship clash at home to Preston North End on Tuesday (19:45 GMT).

Here are the key takeaways:

• Patrick Roberts is "available to start" after going off with a suspected injury just 24 minutes into the 2-1 win over Cardiff at the weekend.

• Le Bris says Jobe Bellingham has "managed the situation very well" after playing the past three games on nine bookings for the season - one caution away from a two-match suspension. The Preston game is the last match in which he could pick up a ban for 10 yellow cards as the number required extends to 15 after gameweek 37.

• On Chris Mepham becoming the 17th league goalscorer of the season on Saturday: "It's important to find different solutions to score. I think we're good in fast attacks, we have pace at the top of the pitch, we showed it early in the season. If we have only this strength, I think we become predictable so it's important to have different options."

• Wilson Isidor is "frustrated" to have been left out the starting line-up in the past two games.

• Le Bris said: "The conversation was totally open and clear from my point of view. The players want to play, they want to score. But they know we need the full squad to maintain the level. It was important for Eli [Mayenda] as well to get some minutes and to score goals so now we have two very good strikers and I think that's better for us than having only one."

• On facing Preston: "Preston are a good team, they are powerful, they are well connected, we can feel the teamwork. It's a tough game."

• And whether Preston not being in realistic play-off contention or danger of relegation makes a difference: "It's still difficult because if you don't have a risk, you can play with more freedom and be more creative and take more risks. What we can control is the way we play and that's the main focus for us."

Listen to Regis Le Bris' pre-match press conference on BBC Sounds