Sunderland Without Brobbey and Ballard Against Brighton

Sunderland will be without striker Brian Brobbey and defender Dan Ballard for Saturday’s Premier League match against Brighton, leaving manager Regis Le Bris to select replacements for two injured players. Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler said the absences would not necessarily make Sunderland weaker, arguing that different players can change the team’s approach rather than diminish it. Brobbey sustained a hamstring injury while playing for the Netherlands during the international break. Le Bris said the injury was expected to be short-term but that Sunderland would not take a risk by playing him against Brighton. Brobbey had scored a hat-trick in Sunderland’s 5-3 defeat to Manchester City before the break. Ballard also suffered a hamstring injury on international duty, playing for Northern Ireland against Georgia. Le Bris said the defender would be sidelined for a few weeks and described the injury as medium-term. The absences leave Sunderland with decisions to make in attack and at centre-back. Wilson Isidor is a likely option to lead the attack in Brobbey’s place. Hurzeler said Isidor offers a different profile, making deep runs and seeking to get behind opposing defences.