Granit Xhaka injury update ahead of Arsenal v Sunderland clash

Granit Xhaka will miss Sunderland’s trip to Premier League leaders Arsenal (Picture: Getty)

Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris says Granit Xhaka is making good progress with his recovery but will miss this weekend’s clash against his former club Arsenal .

Xhaka has been a revelation since being enticed back to the Premier League to join Sunderland last summer, playing an instrumental role in the club’s impressive season on their return to the English top flight.

But the 33-year-old midfielder picked up an ankle injury during the Black Cats’ 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace and has been missing for the side’s last two games against West Ham and Burnley as a result.

Though no exact date has been given for Xhaka’s potential return to the fold, Le Bris has previously hinted that his captain could be set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

According to the The Sunderland Echo , the Switzerland international may still be ‘several weeks’ away from being fully fit, which comes as a major blow to the club’s hopes of European qualification this term.

There will also be some disappointment for Xhaka from a personal perspective that he will be unable to take to the field on his former stomping ground in two days’ time at the Emirates.

Asked if there had been any major findings from a scan Xhaka had on his ankle, Le Bris told reporters: ‘Not yet but he’s going well.

The ex-Arsenal midfielder has been working on his recovery in the gym (Picture: Getty)

Le Bris’ side sit eighth in the Premier League table (Picture: Getty)

‘He ran on the treadmill today so that’s positive.’

Asked whether it could be seen as a positive that Xhaka is getting a break from the rigours of Premier League football, Le Bris replied: ‘It’s tough to answer because he’s a really good player.

‘When we have our best players on the pitch, things are better for the team.

‘But it is what it is. I think the journey in the Premier League, at that competitive level, it’s not unusual to have injuries or suspensions so you have to deal with the situation.

‘For the players in that part of the pitch, it’s an opportunity to step up and show their qualities.’

The Swiss spent seven years with the Gunners (Picture: Getty)

Le Bris wishes Xhaka a speedy recovery and hopes to the midfielder is able to return to the ‘best version’ of himself before the end of the season.

‘He’s still connected with the team,’ the Sunderland boss added.

‘I hope he will recover quickly in the spring and the end of the season to have the best version of Granit with us.’

Arsenal sit six points clear at the top of the table ahead of Saturday’s meeting (Picture: Getty)

Sunderland held leaders Arsenal to a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture at the Stadium of Light back in early November – one of the eight occasions in which the Gunners have dropped points this term.

On what he and his players had taken from that match, Le Bris explained: ‘[We learned] that we have to show the best version of Sunderland with the underdog mindset.

‘They [ Arsenal ] are playing at a huge level. They are impressive in the Premier League , outstanding in the Champions League and they are probably one of the best teams in Europe at the minute.

‘It’s a tough challenge, an exciting challenge. I would like to paint this picture but we know that the level expected is very high. We will try our best.’

The Black Cats thumped lowly Burnley 3-0 in their previous encounter (Picture: Getty)

Asked if he liked Sunderland’s status at underdogs, the Frenchman responded: ‘Yeah, for sure, because we a newly promoted side.

‘If we keep this mindset, we stay humble, we know that we have to be strong on our key pillars otherwise the level is too high and you get punished really quickly.

‘We play with freedom because you can make mistakes but, at the same time, we can create something and that’s been the case so far.’

Sunderland could rise to as high as sixth with victory over the Gunners (Picture: Getty)

Le Bris hopes his players are able to display the kind of ‘confidence’ and ‘belief’ against Arsenal that they have shown throughout much of their campaign.

‘Maybe [it’s the exuberance of youth] or it might be the identity of the club as well,’ he said of Sunderland’s encouraging start to the season.

‘We spoke early on in the season about the different challenges.

‘If we say that we want to win, we expect to win, against the bottom part of the table then you might miss the opportunity to win against the top part of the table.

‘It’s still possible if you believe that it’s possible so you have to have this confidence, this belief against these kind of teams.

‘But on the other side, you have to think that you won’t face an easy squad and you have to give everything to win a single point.’