October will provide answers to three key Sunderland questions

Sunderland faces a demanding October schedule featuring four Premier League matches, two Europa League away trips, and a Carabao Cup tie against Brentford. The Northern Echo's Dominic Shaw highlights three major questions for manager Regis Le Bris, led by the fitness of Dan Ballard and Brian Brobbey after both suffered hamstring injuries during the international break.

Shaw notes that maintaining Premier League form remains the priority despite European commitments, with testing fixtures against Brighton, Bournemouth, and Leeds. The intense period will also reveal how Le Bris manages squad rotation, potentially creating opportunities for players like Chris Rigg, Omar Alderete, and recent Ecuador debutant Juan Riquelme Angulo.