Le Bris confirms Sunderland star set for period of absence | OneFootball

Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris has confirmed that midfielder Habib Diarra will now join up with the Senegal national team to take part in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Diarra made his return off the bench for Sunderland in their goalless draw with Brighton having been out since September with a groin injury.

He was named in the Senegal squad for the tournament which starts this month, however, and having returned to action he will now leave the Black Cats to link up with his national side.

“We were happy to go all the way through the rehab process with him,” Le Bris said.

“This was the conclusion of that, and now he is ready to play. So, he will go with his national team. It will be progressive with them as well, in order to make sure everything goes well, and then after AFCON, he will be 100 per cent with us and in a good shape.”

Le Bris admits his side were left feeling disappointed with their draw with the Seagulls.

“A draw was probably a fair result,” Le Bris said.

“The atmosphere in the dressing room was a bit disappointed [that we didn’t win], which was a good sign for the future.”