Though many fans dread international breaks, there’s no denying that this one comes at an ideal moment for us. Sunderland faces Millwall next Saturday—a team known for their physical, high-ball style, and one that’s been a tough opponent for us in the past. In fact, back in February 2023, their imposing center-half Jake Cooper scored against us and recently found the net again versus Burnley. That February game also saw Dennis Cirkin sustain a concussion while scoring an equalizer, sidelining him for much of the season before he made a memorable return in April, scoring against Cardiff and delivering a stunning double against West Brom.
Reflecting on our December 2022 home game with Millwall during the World Cup, we struggled against their aggressive play in the first half but ultimately triumphed with three goals in the second. This season, though, we’ve shown a newfound resilience against teams that try to outmuscle us. Games against Luton, Preston, and Coventry stand out; these are matches we likely would have lost last season. Now, we’re better equipped to take on Millwall’s robust tactics.
However, we’ll be without several key players: Jobe Bellingham, Alan Browne, Romaine Mundle, Patrick Roberts, and Trai Hume are all sidelined due to suspensions and injuries. While it’s a relief that former injury concerns like Eliezer Mayenda and Dan Ballard are back to full fitness, our midfield remains thin. There’s a chance Aji Alese might return, which would solidify our defense, but that’s not a certainty. And with Aaron Connolly making limited impact in his recent appearances and Tommy Watson showing some hesitation against Preston, Millwall may not be the best setting to test their readiness.
This could, however, be the perfect moment for Milan Aleksić to make his debut. Critics warned us that suspensions and injuries could expose weaknesses, and indeed, the team has looked wobbly even at full strength over the last three games. It’s clear Jobe’s absence has been felt.
As they say, necessity is the mother of invention. Watching our pre-season games, where we defeated a Spanish second-tier side and held Marseille to a 2-2 draw, I first sensed that Régis Le Bris could bring something unique to our squad. A real strategist, Le Bris has managed our season remarkably, keeping us unbeaten in eight games. With this break giving him valuable time to prepare, there’s every reason to believe he can rally the squad and prime them for another strong performance on the road.
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