The anticipation at the Stadium of Light was palpable as Sunderland prepared to face Fulham on February 22, 2026, with head coach Régis Le Bris unveiling a lineup brimming with intrigue, tactical shifts, and a few surprises. The build-up to this Premier League clash had already been dominated by talk of injuries and returns, but the official team sheet confirmed that Sunderland would be fielding a very different starting XI from their previous outing—six changes in total, each with a story of its own.
Perhaps the biggest headline was the cautious return of Granit Xhaka. After nearly a month sidelined with an ankle injury, the experienced midfielder was back in the matchday squad, but not quite ready to start. Instead, Le Bris opted to ease him in, naming Xhaka among the substitutes. "For Granit, we will have to be progressive and respect the process, but it is good because now we have all of our midfielders available," Le Bris explained in his pre-match press conference, signaling a careful approach to reintegrating the 33-year-old into the high-intensity demands of Premier League football.
The absence of Xhaka from the starting lineup meant a reshuffle in midfield. Noah Sadiki, who has impressed in recent weeks, was handed the responsibility of anchoring the midfield. Ahead of him, Habib Diarra and Enzo Le Fée were tasked with providing the creative spark and energy. This midfield trio, a blend of youthful exuberance and tactical discipline, would be pivotal in Sunderland’s bid to control the tempo against a Fulham side known for their own technical prowess.
On the wings, Régis Le Bris made another bold call by granting Jocelin Ta Bi his full Sunderland debut. The young winger’s encouraging cameo at Oxford United earlier in the week clearly left an impression on the coaching staff. Ta Bi was deployed on the right flank, his pace and directness offering a fresh dimension to Sunderland’s attack. On the opposite side, Nilson Angulo got the nod over Chemsdine Talbi, with Le Bris favoring Angulo’s industry and ability to track back—an asset with the defensive reshuffle taking place behind him.
And what a reshuffle it was in defense. The left-back position had been thrown into uncertainty with the news that Reinildo would miss the next few weeks due to injury, a blow that forced Le Bris to consider his options. Initially, Dennis Cirkin appeared the obvious replacement, but a late injury ruled him out entirely. Enter Trai Hume, a player more accustomed to the right side of defense, but who has filled in on the left before. Hume’s adaptability was called upon once again, slotting in at left back to cover the gap. It’s not his natural role, but as Le Bris has shown, necessity is the mother of invention in top-flight football.
Rounding out the back line were Nordi Mukiele at right back and the returning duo of Dan Ballard and Omar Alderete at center back. Both Ballard and Alderete had missed the previous game but were fit to return, restoring some much-needed stability and experience to the heart of Sunderland’s defense. Between the sticks, Robin Roefs continued as the undisputed number one, fresh off another clean sheet last week and hoping for another solid performance.
Up front, Brian Brobbey led the line once more. His physical presence and hold-up play have become central to Sunderland’s attacking approach, and with the likes of Diarra, Le Fée, Ta Bi, and Angulo buzzing around him, the Black Cats looked set to test Fulham’s back line from multiple angles. Brobbey’s ability to bring others into play and create space is a key component of Le Bris’s tactical blueprint, especially with a midfield that thrives on late runs into the box.
The bench, meanwhile, was stacked with options. Alongside Xhaka, Chemsdine Talbi, Wilson Isidor, Eliezer Mayenda, Chris Rigg, Luke O’Nien, Tim Ellborg, Lutsharel Geertruida, and Romaine Mundle were all available to provide fresh legs or a change in approach as the game demanded. This depth was particularly important given the rigors of the Premier League and the ongoing injury concerns within the squad.
For Fulham, the big news was the return of Tom Cairney, who took his place on the bench after his own spell on the sidelines. His presence offered a boost for the visitors and ensured that both sides had experienced campaigners ready to make an impact if called upon in the latter stages.
Le Bris also touched on his approach to managing his young wingers, hinting at a rotational strategy designed to keep them fresh and confident. "He fits the profile and the identity," Le Bris said of Ta Bi. "I believe for our wingers now, it's really hard to design a plan with three, four, five, six consecutive games because of the difficulty and the demand of the Premier League. It's more about two players for one position. One can start and the other can finish. Maybe you can start two or three games in a row, but you won't go all the way often. If we can combine two and two, they will grow and maybe they will find the right level of confidence."
Injury updates continued to shape the narrative around Sunderland’s squad. While Reinildo and Cirkin’s absences forced defensive changes, there was a glimmer of good news on the horizon, as the club expressed hope that Bertrand Traoré could resume full training after his knee injury next week. Such developments are crucial as the season enters its decisive phase, with every point and every fit player potentially making the difference between success and disappointment.
The match itself shaped up to be a litmus test for Sunderland’s progress under Le Bris. With so many changes and the integration of young talent like Ta Bi, the encounter with Fulham promised to reveal much about the team’s resilience, depth, and tactical flexibility. Would the midfield trio of Sadiki, Diarra, and Le Fée provide enough control? Could Hume handle the challenge on the left? Would Brobbey’s hold-up play unlock Fulham’s defense? Those were the questions on every supporter’s mind as the teams took to the field.
As the action unfolded, one thing was certain: Sunderland’s evolving lineup, shaped by injuries, returns, and bold coaching decisions, would keep fans and pundits alike guessing. With Granit Xhaka waiting in the wings and a new generation of talent stepping up, the Black Cats’ journey this season remains as compelling as ever. The final whistle may still be some way off, but the storylines are already writing themselves at the Stadium of Light.