Anthony Patterson ruled out of Sunderland's game against Coventry City

Patterson has been struggling with a muscular injury since suffering a knock in last month’s win at Luton Town, and has missed the Black Cats’ last three matches.

He will not be involved when managerless Coventry visit the Stadium of Light this afternoon, with Regis Le Bris meaning the two-week international break should mean he is fully recovered by the time Sunderland head to Millwall in a fortnight’s time.

“Anthony won’t be available (for the Coventry game),” confirmed Le Bris. “I hope he will be fit for Millwall. He will have had two weeks to prepare for that.”

With Patterson ruled out again, Simon Moore will continue in goal for the fourth game in a row.

The 34-year-old is yet to concede a league goal in a Sunderland shirt, having kept three clean sheets in succession, and will be lining up against his former club this weekend after spending three years as a Coventry player prior to moving to Wearside this summer.

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“He did very well,” said Le Bris. “I’m very pleased for Simon because he’s a very good professional. His attitude is perfect. Because he is training so well every day, when the opportunity came, he was ready. He was ready to come in and play, and that has been good for him and good for the team as well.”

Jobe Bellingham will be missing against Coventry as he serves the second game of his three-match ban, with Alan Browne set to continue as part of Sunderland’s midfield three.

Having been taken out of the starting line-up for Wednesday’s draw at Preston, Patrick Roberts and Romain Mundle are expected to return to the starting line-up tomorrow, with Wilson Isidor reverting to the central-striker role.