Sunderland are sitting in 10th place in the Premier League table after picking up 46 points from their first 32 games of the season. Régis Le Bris has led his team through a solid run lately, with the Black Cats picking up back-to-back away wins against Leeds United and Newcastle United. This boost follows a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at the Stadium of Light, where a goal from Nordi Mukiele made the difference.
The Wearside team have only lost once in their last five league games, showing a tough defensive side that has helped goalkeeper Robin Roefs rack up nine clean sheets so far. As the team get ready for a tough trip to face fourth-placed Aston Villa this Sunday, the coaching staff is focused on keeping this momentum going through the final weeks of the season.
Final stages of recovery for Nilson Angulo
Reports from Fútbol Ecuador say that Nilson Angulo is in the final phase of his recovery after tearing a muscle during the last international break. The 22-year-old winger moved to the Stadium of Light from Anderlecht in February for around €17.3m, but getting injured while playing for Ecuador slowed down his start with the club. Before his winter move, Angulo put up great numbers in the Belgian Pro League, scoring six goals and grabbing five assists in 22 games.
His stats show he’s a real threat in the final third, averaging 2.22 key passes per game and an expected assists (xA) value of 0.28 per 90 minutes. While Régis Le Bris might bring the attacker along to Villa Park, he’s probably not match-fit enough to actually play this weekend. Most people expect the youngster to make his official return against Nottingham Forest on April 24th.
Should Sunderland risk rushing Angulo back for the European push?
BURSLEM, ENGLAND – MARCH 08: Nilson Angulo of Sunderland looks on during the warm up prior to the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between Port Vale and Sunderland on March 08, 2026 in Burslem, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Sunderland shouldn’t rush Nilson Angulo back into the starting lineup, even with the Aston Villa game being so important. The club spent a lot of money on the Ecuadorian international as a long-term project, and bringing him back too soon could easily re-injure the muscle tear that has already kept him out for weeks. Since the Black Cats are comfortable in mid-table and still close to the European spots, looking after their big winter signing makes more sense than taking a desperate gamble.
Le Bris has enough options in the squad to get through the next few games without risking another injury to a player who hasn’t found his feet in English football yet. Staying patient during this last bit of recovery ensures Angulo can play a full part in a strong finish and a healthy pre-season. Keeping him fit now is much more important than the small gain of a sub appearance against a high-pressing Unai Emery side.
