Black Cats lose six players while Manchester United will be without Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo
Premier League sides have been left counting the cost after their various African contingents departed for the Africa Cup of Nations this week.
The tournament begins in Morocco on Sunday and runs until January 18, but clubs had to release players not later than seven days before the opening game.
Fifteen Premier League clubs have been stripped of their players but Sunderland are the worst hit. They will be without six senior players in the coming weeks, leaving them highly exposed in the busy festive period.
Arthur Masuaku and Noah Sadiki have joined the Democratic Republic of Congo squad, while Reinildo has linked up with Mozambique. Midfielder Habib Diarra departed for Mali; Chemsdine Talbi was selected by hosts Morocco; and Bertrand Traore was called up by Burkina Faso.
All six were involved in Sunderland’s 1-0 win over Newcastle United on Sunday and have been a key part of the Black Cats impressive campaign so far on their return to the Premier League. Sunderland are eighth, with 26 points from 16 games. That makes it more likely than not that they will stay up this season, but manager Regis Le Bris will be desperate to avoid any major reverses while half of his first-teamers are away.
Manchester United will be without Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui, with the first two having been a key part of Amorim’s attack so far. Liverpool will lose Mohamed Salah as he joins Egypt.
Manchester City will be without Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri. Arsenal and Chelsea are unaffected.
