Sunderland has confirmed that defender Aji Alese will be sidelined for approximately 12 weeks due to an ankle injury sustained in training. This injury prompted Sunderland to sign Chris Mepham from Bournemouth on a season-long loan to bolster their defense. Meanwhile, Portsmouth has made adjustments to their starting lineup for their match against Sunderland, with Matt Ritchie and Sammy Silvera coming in, while Conor Shaughnessy's absence continues to raise questions among fans. Portsmouth's manager John Mousinho faces scrutiny over the lack of transparency regarding Shaughnessy's health status. As Sunderland and Portsmouth clash in the Championship, both teams are navigating injuries and squad changes, amid a competitive race for promotion to the Premier League.