Sunderland won’t rush back Senegal international Habib Diarra despite AFCON decision looming

Sunderland won’t rush record-signing Habib Diarra back from groin surgery as they attempt to remain among the pacesetters in the Premier League.

Diarra was one of a raft of players to move to Wearside over the summer following the club’s promotion to the top flight via the play-offs.

The Senegal international made a bright start to his Sunderland career after a £30million switch from Strasbourg but suffered a setback in training prior to the game with Aston Villa in September and has missed the last seven games as a result.

Regis Le Bris’ side have coped well without him – they sit fourth heading into the weekend’s action – and the Frenchman is adamant Diarra won’t return until he is 100% ready.

Le Bris said: “We are in a good place but we don’t want to rush the process because we’ll need Habib for the second half of the season in his best shape.”

Le Bris coy on Diarra’s AFCON participation

The situation is complicated slightly by Senegal’s participation in the African Cup of Nations over Christmas. The squads for the tournament have to be named by December 11, three days before Sunderland’s crunch derby clash with Newcastle at the Stadium of Light.

The ideal scenario for Sunderland would be for Diarra to miss out on AFCON and remain in England for the busy festive period.

“It’s too early to start with the national team and we could damage his health, we won’t take risks, but we’ll see,” added Le Bris, who will watch returning trio Dennis Cirkin, Romaine Mundle and Leo Hjelde turn out for the Under-21s later today.

Sunderland have several players due to take part in AFCON and Le Bris is hoping to co-operate with various national team coaches to minimise the effect on his squad.

“It’s not an official [date], it is mainly a direct conversation with the staff,” he said when asked when players would have to leave.

“I would like to keep them for the derby. There is no specific rule when we have to let them go by. It is important that our players are available for our team but we know for the African players this cup is important for them.”

Reinildo and Alderete set to return for Fulham clash

Sunderland head to Fulham this weekend looking to extend a 14-match unbeaten league run in the capital. They will have left-back Reinildo Mandava available after he sustained a minor injury on international duty with Mozambique.

Paraguay centre-half Omar Alderete is set to be on the bench after missing the last three league games with a concussion. The former Getafe centre-half was sent-off against the United States last week after a touchline fracas and missed the game against Mexico due to suspension.

“He is like that,” Le Bris with a smile. “He can react a bit quickly to some events. It’s bad news on one side because he had the opportunity to play some minutes and it wasn’t possible, but at the same time he was connected to his international side.”