Le Bris: Sunderland plan to rotate 9-10 players against Hull City, Fofana and Metali could start

According to the Sunderland Echo, Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris revealed that he plans to make major changes to the starting lineup for the League Cup third-round match against Hull City, with 9 to 10 players expected to be replaced. Malik Fofana and Dayan Metali could make their first starts since joining the club.

Sunderland will host Hull City at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday evening. The match comes only three days after the team drew 1-1 with Brentford in the Premier League.

Against Brentford, Kevin Danso made his Sunderland debut, while Malik Fofana, who joined on deadline day, came on as a substitute to make his first appearance for the team. Metali, who had previously been unavailable due to a suspension carried over from his time playing in France, has now completed his ban and was included on the bench.

As Sunderland enter a busy schedule, Le Bris is preparing to use the League Cup for a large-scale rotation. Fofana, Metali and Jules Aholou all have the chance to make their first starts for Sunderland against Hull City.

Le Bris said: "Yes, this is a very good opportunity to allow players to get playing time in competitive matches, which is very positive. We think we will make changes to the lineup, around nine or 10 players, but we will have to see the exact number."

Speaking about specific players, he said: "For example, Metali should start, and I think Malik could also start. We will have to see, but this is indeed a very good opportunity."

This League Cup match will also provide an important opportunity for Le Bris to assess his squad. After this game, Sunderland will face Arsenal in the Premier League before beginning their Europa League campaign against Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.

Le Bris believes that compared with ordinary friendly matches, using a competitive fixture like the League Cup is more valuable for helping players with limited playing time find their form.

He said: "It is definitely much better than playing a friendly match. You are facing a good team at your own home ground, and it is an ideal condition for increasing match time and helping players improve their form."