Regis Le Bris explains Dennis Cirkin Sunderland decision for Sheffield United test

Dennis Cirkin will not be rushed back into the Sunderland team to face Sheffield United, on Friday night, with Regis Le Bris insisting “we have other solutions and it would be too risky to use him".

The left-back has been one of the Black Cats best performers this season but has been out for two weeks. Fourth-placed Sunderland take on a team that has won their last seven games at Bramall Lane without conceding a goal but Le Bris is excited by the challenge.

On Cirkin he said: “Dennis has not trained for two weeks. We have other solutions in defence so there’s no need to rush. I trust Dennis, but it would be too risky to use him.”

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Luke O’Nien was pushed out to right-back as Trai Hume covered Cirkin’s position against West Brom, while Dan Ballard and Chris Mepham took up the central defensive roles.

Cirkin’s eventual return could push O’Nien out of the team, with Hume set to switch to the right, but Le Bris said: “Luke is still very important for the team. “So at the minute he is in the squad, he’s doing well so it’s a good problem for me to have. Because if we have more depth in the squad, with a different style of play we can manage different solutions.

“So far we didn’t use our five substitutes so much. Some of the players are talented but not really ready for that level of competition. They need minutes and they need experiences. With a back four like ours, plus Dennis, we have many options and we know the level of experiences is perfect and we can manage a different style of play with triangles. So, for the opposition, if we struggle to find spaces and balance we can change with another player, the triangle will be functional but with a different dynamic. So it could be a good option for us.”

Sheffield United are a daunting prospect and Le Bris added: “It will be different with more challenges and a different style of play. For us we need to be very versatile with our game model. How we press and how we can press high in the midfield, how we defend in our final third, and the way we can finish. “And our set-pieces too. We have to be strong in every phase. Our foundations are getting better. It’s not perfect at all. But we can feel we can trust different phases and now we have to master a little bit more.”

Le Bris was pleased against West Brom and explained: “We were consistent for 75 minutes against West Brom and it was just the finishing zone wasn’t perfect. But we played well, we pressed well, high on the pitch, man for man and our defence was proactive and really good. I liked the energy and willingness to press. Our finishing zone wasn’t good enough. So now we probably have to be more clinical and create more chances.”

Keeping clean sheets and going unbeaten in 10 matches are positives but finding the right blend of attack and defence is key.

“It’s not simple,” shrugged Le Bris. “We managed the West Brom game like we wanted to manage it. Sometimes you win and you don’t deserve to win and sometimes you don’t win when you deserve to win. So it’s keeping the balance and the consistency.

“We don’t have to rush our process. We know we are very strong in certain parts of the game. We know we are six or seven per cent missing in others, but if you rush that part you might unbalance another part of the team. So it’s a question of balance.”

Le Bris added: “We have a strong team and we can manage different scenarios and we are excited and ready to go.

“It’s a new scenario against Sheffield and new elements to master, against a different style of team. We need stronger opponents to find our limits and to push and to recognise we are doing well. When you struggle with five draws, it’s not perfect but we have played against Millwall which is a tough place and West Brom we did well, even if we didn’t win.”