Sunderland lineup vs. Brentford: Predicted XI for Premier League clash after double defensive injury blow

Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris must manage without influential defender Daniel Ballard for Saturday's Premier League battle with Brentford at the Stadium of Light.

The former Arsenal youth product sustained a groin injury just nine minutes into last weekend's 2-0 loss at Burnley and subsequently missed the midweek EFL Cup second-round loss to Huddersfield Town on penalties.

Ballard has avoided a serious concern, but he will still be missing until after the September international break, a bitter blow for the Black Cats given his crucial presence in both boxes.

To make matters worse for Sunderland defensively, Niall Huggins was withdrawn in midweek due to a groin injury of his own; he has trained since, but new signing Nordi Mukiele should shift across to right-back to cover for his less fit teammate.

Mukiele began at centre-back in the defeat to Huddersfield, but Jenson Seelt and Omar Alderete should form the central pairing this weekend, while Reinildo Mandava completes Robin Roefs's backline.

Le Bris gave most of his regular starters the night off in midweek, so a well-rested midfield trio of Granit Xhaka, Noah Sadiki and Habib Diarra will return from the off this weekend.

The same goes for the attacking trident of Simon Adingra, Chemsdine Talbi and Eliezer Mayenda, in spite of Marc Guiu's late header to prevent Sunderland going out in normal time in midweek.

Sunderland possible starting lineup:

Roefs; Mukiele, Seelt, Alderete, Reinildo; Diarra, Xhaka, Sadiki; Talbi, Mayenda, Adingra

> Click here to see how Brentford could line up for this game