Sunderland looks to have a tricky few clashes in store as they continue their return to the Premier League.

Thankfully, the Black Cats haven’t been paralysed by the challenges in front of them just yet, with Regis Le Bris’ men sitting in a pretty ninth spot in the early standings, after picking up an impressive three wins from their opening seven fixtures.

Still, a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester United last time out will be a worry for Le Bris, considering Chelsea, Everton, and Arsenal are on his team’s fixture list heading into the rest of October and then November, who are all above Ruben Amorim’s underperforming Red Devils in the division.

Further down the line, the Frenchman will also need to make some cutthroat decisions about who he keeps on past their contracts expiring, with many of his reserve personnel perhaps walking away next summer.

The Sunderland players now in danger of leaving

As a direct consequence of Sunderland splashing out over £160m on transfers in the busy transfer window just gone, many of Le Bris’ camp have now had to make do with limited gametime, despite once being important cogs in the Black Cats’ machine.

Indeed, despite only missing two Championship games last season during the regular campaign, Dan Neil looks to be running out of time now as his deal expires next June, with only one minute of Premier League action afforded to him so far.

Patrick Roberts was even sent out on loan to Birmingham City in the summer, as another figure that has dramatically tumbled down the Stadium of Light pecking order.

With a goal and assist already next to his name at St. Andrew’s, it’s clear that the 28-year-old still has more to give in the second tier, even if he has been deemed surplus to requirements back at his parent employers.

There is also reserve goalkeeper figure Simon Moore, who will surely be moved on soon, with Robin Roefs eating up all his potential minutes even more.

Before the Dutchman’s inspired arrival, the ex-Brentford stopper had only ever made six first-team appearances on Wearside, with his exit from the club presumably in the offing.

There is another figure who hasn’t been mentioned yet, who will also find it hard to make a pressing case to stay put, despite consistently shining when selected by Le Bris.

Why Dennis Cirkin is now on borrowed time

While Sunderland did break the bank this summer to prepare for their Premier League voyage, several of Sunderland’s promotion heroes have also stepped up to the mark, away from the disappointing tales of Neil and Roberts.

Wilson Isidor – who fired home a respectable 13 goals during their promotion heroics – already has three league goals to shout about, whilst Trai Hume’s fiery character in the Championship has been front and centre of his game in the top-flight, too, with the Northern Irishman winning a mammoth six duels on average across his seven outings in the demanding league, as per Sofascore.

One of Hume’s reliable teammates at the back in the EFL’s elite division in Dennis Cirkin, has failed to make the step-up look effortless, though, with the number three’s ongoing journey on Wearside marred by injuries once more.

Since entering the club as a wide-eyed prospect from Tottenham Hotspur in 2021, Cirkin has collected a standout haul of eight goals and six assists from 116 appearances, with his ability to break up the pitch with speed, matched by his Hume-like tenacity in defence, seeing him earn rave reviews in the past.

Indeed, he seemingly has “the potential to be a Premier League player”, according to ex-boss Tony Mowbray, who also noted that “Jose Mourinho really liked him” back at Spurs, amid his rise up the Lilywhites youth ranks.

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He is yet to live up to Mowbray’s – and Mourinho’s – praise and grace the Stadium of Light turf in the Premier League, owing to more injury difficulties mounting up, with a concerning 67 games missed in total over the five seasons he’s been at the top-flight newcomers.

With a £20m price tag once above his head when at his Black Cats peak, it does look far-fetched that any club would want to fork out that lavish amount on such an injury-prone individual in January, even if he does have a bilstering strike up his sleeve when free from his demons.

Sunderland could, therefore, be staring down the barrel at Cirkin leaving for nothing when his contract ceases to be next year, with it a risk to keep such an injury-ravaged star around, in what would be a very sad end to the 23-year-old’s long-established Wearside affiliation.