Mike Dodds faces another setback with Sunderland players following their defeat against Leicester City.

Sunderland is set to face a setback in their upcoming Championship matches against Southampton and QPR, as they will be without key player Luke O’Nien. O’Nien’s absence comes at a challenging time for Sunderland, who currently sit 10 points outside the playoff spots after suffering their fifth consecutive defeat in the Championship on Tuesday night, losing 1-0 to Leicester City under interim boss Mike Dodds, who has now lost all three games in charge. O’Nien, the club captain, has been a regular presence in Sunderland’s lineup this season, featuring in 35 out of 36 Championship fixtures. However, after receiving his 10th yellow card of the season in the recent match against Leicester City, O’Nien will serve a two-game suspension. Despite being a midfielder by trade, O’Nien has been deployed as a center-back since Sunderland’s return to the Championship last season.

Luke O’Nien’s role has shifted from playing on the right of defense last season to the center of defense this year, often partnering with Dan Ballard. Former Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray has praised O’Nien as an ‘amazing’ player.

With O’Nien unavailable for the challenging upcoming match against possession-dominant Southampton, it poses a significant setback for Dodds and Sunderland. Given Dodds’ recent use of a back-five formation, his options may include altering the formation once more. However, considering recent criticisms regarding the team’s shape, further changes may not be ideal.

Should Dodds opt to maintain a back-five with three center-backs, it’s likely that Ballard and Jenson Seelt will start in the middle, with Leo Hjelde potentially moving into the center. While Hjelde has struggled in recent outings as a left wing-back, his defensive attributes could prove beneficial in the center.

Furthermore, shifting Hjelde to the middle creates an opportunity for Callum Styles to feature in his accustomed left wing-back role, having played in a more advanced position on the right against Norwich City last weekend.

Despite O’Nien’s absence posing a challenge, it opens the door for Hjelde and Styles to showcase their abilities. The match against Southampton kicks off at 3pm on Saturday.