Regis Le Bris faces late fitness calls before Newcastle derby | OneFootball

Sunderland Echo reports that Regis Le Bris says several key Sunderland players will undergo late fitness checks before Sunday’s derby at Newcastle United, their first trip to St James' Park in a decade.

The quartet being assessed are Robin Roefs, Dan Ballard, Nordi Mukiele and Enzo Le Fée. Roefs is managing a hamstring issue from last month’s draw with Bournemouth. Ballard went off just after the hour in last weekend’s defeat to Brighton, Le Fée missed that game, and Mukiele has not featured since a calf problem against Fulham on 22 February.

Jocelin Ta Bi, Nilson Angulo, Bertrand Traore and Romain Mundle are already sidelined. Le Bris said any call on the others will be purely medical and he will not take unnecessary risks, noting there are seven games after this one and the international break could help complete rehab if required.

On Ballard, he described the issue as discomfort in the hamstring area and said his condition would be monitored.

Asked whether the occasion and a three-week wait until the next Premier League match might influence selection, he said emotion cannot dictate choices. He had just spoken with Mukiele and stressed the players are pushing to be involved, but warned that a 20-minute cameo followed by a setback could mean eight or nine weeks out.

Source: Sunderland Echo