Sunderland Lose Diarra for Six Weeks as Midfielder Suffers Fresh Training Injury

Sunderland will be without Habib Diarra for around six weeks after the midfielder suffered a muscle injury in training, head coach Régis Le Bris has confirmed. The Senegal international had only just worked his way back from his previous absence, featuring for 45 minutes in the EFL Cup win over Brentford, and the new setback is his third injury in just over 12 months on Wearside. Le Bris delivered the news at his pre-match press conference ahead of Thursday's Europa League trip to Dinamo Zagreb, saying the first diagnosis pointed to an absence of "probably around six weeks". The timing could hardly be worse for Sunderland, with Diarra now set to miss as many as ten matches, including Sunday's Premier League visit from Chelsea and the Tyne-Wear derby at Newcastle on December 6. The club have already moved to cover the gap, registering Chemsdine Talbi in their Europa League squad in Diarra's place. Le Bris admitted the loss hurts a squad already stretched thin, with Romaine Mundle and Dan Ballard also sidelined. "We don't have many injuries, just serious ones," he said. "He worked hard to come back from his previous injury. He is important in our squad."