Sunderland boss Régis Le Bris has hinted that Reinildo could be in line for a recall to the starting XI ahead of Saturday’s trip to Stamford Bridge.

The Black Cats will be without key defender Omar Alderete, who is sidelined with a concussion sustained in last weekend’s match. The Paraguayan is currently following the mandatory concussion protocols and will be assessed daily, with hopes that he could return in time to face Everton at the Stadium of Light next Monday.

Alderete’s absence leaves Le Bris with a selection dilemma in defence as Sunderland prepare to take on Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea. Reinildo, who was sent off for violent conduct during the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa earlier this month, now appears to be back in the manager’s good books and ready to feature once again.

When asked about the possibility of Reinildo starting, Le Bris said:

“Rei is an important player for us. He began the season very well, made a mistake, apologised, and responded in the right way. He’s raised the intensity in training and got valuable minutes with his national team recently. He’s ready to go and will be a big asset for us.”

Even without Alderete, Sunderland’s defensive depth gives Le Bris options. Lutsharel Geertruida is pushing for his first start after a string of solid showings from the bench in recent weeks.

Le Bris stressed the importance of maintaining stability at the back:

“Consistency is crucial in this league. When you’re defensively strong and hard to break down, it gives the team confidence. From the start, we’ve had a clear idea of the profiles we wanted, and everyone – from the owner to the recruitment staff – has been aligned.”

Sunderland’s latest injury update

While Alderete remains unavailable, Le Bris confirmed that Noah Sadiki has recovered from the ankle issue he picked up late in the win over Wolves.

“He recovered very quickly,” Le Bris explained. “I was a little worried after the Wolves game, but he’s trained fully this week. He’s young, adaptable, and ready to play.”

Elsewhere, Leo Hjelde, Aji Alese, Romaine Mundle, and Dennis Cirkin are still on the injury list and won’t be involved this weekend.

Looking ahead to the trip to Stamford Bridge, Le Bris acknowledged the scale of the challenge awaiting his side:

“We’ve had a strong start to the season, showing good consistency and adaptability. But Chelsea are a top-four side with real depth and quality. They’re young, dynamic, and very well coached. It will be a huge test for us, but also a great opportunity to measure our progress.”