Habib Diarra nearing Sunderland return after injury, two or three weeks mooted | OneFootball

According to Sunderland Echo, Sunderland midfielder Habib Diarra is closing in on a comeback, with head coach Regis Le Bris indicating a two or three week timeframe that would take him to the end of the international break.

He made an instant impact off the bench against Fulham at the Stadium of Light in late August, bursting down the right and picking out Wilson Isidor for the tap-in that sealed the points. He was forced off before the final whistle with the injury.

In the days that followed, Le Bris said the Senegalese international would be sidelined for six to eight weeks. He called the situation frustrating and a shame, noting a strong pre-season and growing clarity in Diarra’s game and how it fits Premier League demands.

The setback had a familiar feel. Around the same stage last season he suffered a groin problem that required surgery, and since then his progress on Wearside has been uneven as Enzo Le Fée has excelled in a central role, leaving Diarra’s place less obvious for a player who cost the best part of £30 million.

Before this latest lay-off, though, the 22-year-old looked sharper, more like the bustling presence Sunderland invested in. He appeared capable through the middle or on the right, an area where the club continue to search for an attack-minded option, potentially adding depth for a busy run of fixtures.

How quickly he reaches full speed, and how many opportunities follow, remains to be seen. If he can stay fit, his return could offer a timely boost for the remainder of the campaign.

Source: Sunderland Echo

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