Premier League: Relief for Habib Diarra in England

Sunderland's coach Régis Le Bris announced that Habib Diarra, who has been injured with hamstring issues since late August, is 'very close' to returning and should be fully available in about a week. Diarra, who missed the upcoming match against Brighton, has nearly completed his recovery sessions, but no specific return date has been set. He scored during the 1-0 win against Fulham on August 30 before being injured, and his return could coincide with a busy schedule including matches against Torinese in the Europa Cup and Bournemouth in the league. His comeback comes after weeks of waiting and could bolster Sunderland's midfield rotation despite strong competition.