Le Bris decides against formal leadership group at Sunderland

Régis Le Bris has decided not to create an official leadership group at Sunderland for the moment, saying the squad already contains several senior figures who lead on and off the pitch, as the newly promoted club prepares for a busy run of Premier League fixtures. The head coach made the decision after assessing his squad following the summer transfer window, with Granit Xhaka wearing the matchday armband and Luke O'Nien returned to matchday squads after recovering from a shoulder injury sustained in May.

Le Bris said the captaincy structure "comes from everyone in the squad first of all" and that Xhaka is "the captain on the pitch" while O'Nien remains "the club captain because of his history in the club and his behaviour on a daily basis." He added that several other experienced players naturally step up in dressing-room leadership, so a formal group is not necessary at this stage.

Sunderland sit ninth in the table with 11 points from seven matches, unbeaten at the Stadium of Light and with three clean sheets, a start Le Bris described as promising but with "room for improvement." He told the club's website that the team's identity — working hard together, protecting their...