SUNDERLAND are without Granit Xhaka for the first time in the Premier League this season, with an ankle injury ruling the captain out of today’s game at West Ham.
Xhaka suffered the injury in last week’s win over Crystal Palace. It’s not clear how long he’ll be out of action.
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Sunderland have released a statement, saying: “Granit Xhaka has been ruled out of today’s trip to West Ham United.
“The midfielder sustained an ankle injury in last weekend’s victory over Crystal Palace and is now undergoing a period of rehabilitation at the Academy of Light.”
Despite his injury, Xhaka still travelled with the squad to the capital on Friday.
In the absence of Xhaka, Eliezer Mayenda starts for Sunderland at the London Stadium.
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Romaine Mundle has kept his place in the side after making his first Premier League start of the season against Crystal Palace. Habib Diarra and Chemsdine Talbi are both back in the squad after returning from the African Cup of Nations but both have to settle for a spot on the bench, which was always likely to be the case.
Dan Neil is missing from the squad. The midfielder is understood to be nursing a small injury, and there’s also obvious uncertainty surrounding his future. Last season’s captain could leave before the January transfer deadline.
Trai Hume captains Sunderland today.
SUNDERLAND: Roefs, Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Reinildo, Hume, Sadiki, Le Fee, Mundle, Mayenda, Brobbey
SUBS: Patterson, Cirkin, Geertruida, Isidor, Rigg, Diarra, Talbi, Adingra, O’Nien
