This update, published on 17 September 2026, brings together the latest team news for Sunderland’s final pre-season fixture against Rennes at the Stadium of Light. Our original Sunderland vs Rennes match report previewed Saturday’s kick-off. The injury details below reflect the most recent picture from the camp as Régis Le Bris finalises his plans before the Premier League campaign gets under way.
Sunderland vs Rennes update as pre-season reaches final fixture
Sunderland arrive at this fixture full of confidence after a 2-0 win over Lens in France. It was a result that gave Le Bris plenty to work with before his side return to Premier League action. Rennes, by contrast, head to Wearside on the back of a 4-2 defeat to Brentford in their own pre-season outing.
Franck Haise’s Rennes side finished sixth in Ligue 1 last season. That solid return makes them useful opposition for a Sunderland squad still building its identity in the top flight. Sunderland themselves enjoyed a memorable first season back in the Premier League, finishing seventh and securing Europa League qualification in the process.
Thomas Meunier remains the only permanent signing of Sunderland’s summer window so far. It is a sign of how settled Le Bris considers his group to be. The squad is already home to some of the top performers at the Stadium of Light in recent memory, and the head coach appears content to trust the core that carried the club back into the Premier League.
Sunderland vs Rennes team news and predicted line-ups
Le Bris has history on his side against this particular opponent. During his time in charge of Lorient, he beat Rennes in all four of his Ligue 1 meetings with them. That record will not have gone unnoticed by the visiting coaching staff, even if it counts for little in a pre-season friendly.
With minimal squad turnover this summer, Le Bris is expected to name a side close to full strength as he fine-tunes his options before the Ipswich fixture. Meunier’s experience at full-back gives him a reliable option who could go straight into contention. He adds competition in an area of the pitch Le Bris has been keen to strengthen.
Rennes, meanwhile, will be assessing their own combinations having conceded four goals against Brentford. Haise is likely to use the match to test defensive solutions before Ligue 1 resumes in earnest.
Sunderland team news: Latest injury updates and predicted line-up
Sunderland’s latest injury report shows Nordi Mukiele and Omar Alderete are both expected to miss out against Rennes because of minor knocks. Romaine Mundle also sat out the recent trip to France with a knock of his own. Simon Adingra remains unavailable after picking up an injury against Wrexham.
Despite those absences, Le Bris still has enough depth to field a settled-looking line-up. The predicted Sunderland XI to face Rennes is:
- Goalkeeper: Roefs
- Defence: Meunier, Ballard, O’Nien, Reinildo
- Midfield: Xhaka, Sadiki
- Forward line: Hume, Le Fee, Talbi, supporting Brobbey up front
That shape gives Le Bris a mix of experience and pace across the pitch. Meunier and Reinildo offer attacking width from full-back, while Xhaka anchors the midfield alongside Sadiki. It is a line-up built to test Rennes while giving fringe players a final chance to state their case before the Ipswich opener.
What happens next for Sunderland ahead of Premier League opener
Saturday’s friendly is Le Bris’s last opportunity to assess his squad before the Premier League season begins in earnest. Sunderland open their top-flight campaign against Ipswich, looking to build on last season’s seventh-place finish and Europa League qualification.
Expect further rotation from Le Bris in the coming weeks as he manages a squad now adjusting to European commitments alongside the league schedule. That pattern is already visible in his squad rotation under Le Bris for recent fixtures. With Meunier settling in and the injury list expected to clear in the coming weeks, Sunderland fans should have a clearer picture of the head coach’s preferred options by the time Ipswich arrive.
