The Sunderland games Granit Xhaka will miss after injury update

Xhaka was sorely missed as the Black Cats went down 3-1 at West Ham last weekend.

Le Bris confirmed after that defeat that the midfielder would need a fortnight before the severity of his ankle injury became clear.

Xhaka will miss Monday's visit of Burnley, before he is again assessed in the following days. But Le Bris expects to be without the captain for another three weeks, meaning he'll also miss the trip to Arsenal, home game against Liverpool and FA Cup tie at Oxford.

As things stand, there's a hope he'll be in contention to return for the home game against Fulham on February 22.

Le Bris said: "He's doing well. He will have another assessment in around one week and from that point, we'll see where it is to define the next stage of its rehabilitation. So it should take probably three more weeks."

Le Bris must now decide how to deal with the absence of Xhaka in the coming games.

The head coach opted to play a midfield two of Noah Sadiki and Enzo Le Fee at West Ham but the selection backfired badly. Habib Diarra made an impact from the bench and is likely to go into the starting XI on Monday night. Lutsharel Geertruida is another midfield option.

Le Bris said: "We can't replace Granit so, we have to build a new set-up with a new leadership as well.

"I think it takes time but, at the same time, Granit wants to create the conditions for new leaders. So, it's a good period for that.

"We might struggle a bit, which is normal in the Premier League. It's not just a question of one player missing, it's about the level of the league. And we are still a newly promoted side and so, don't forget this, this perspective is really important.

"And we have to manage a new set-up without the leader from the first part of the season. And I think we have the potential in that squad but it takes time.

"We need experiences, often negative, even if it's not comfortable. But you can react and you can learn from that point."