Double Sunderland AFC exit cannot be ruled out in January: View | OneFootball

Adil Aouchiche and Abdoullah Ba are facing uncertain futures at Sunderland after falling out of favour under Regis Le Bris.

It has been an outstanding start to the season for Sunderland in the Championship.

Sunderland endured an incredibly disappointing campaign last season as they finished 16th in the table, but their fortunes have improved significantly under the guidance of Regis Le Bris.

Le Bris has made an excellent start to life at the Stadium of Light, and the Black Cats head into the October international break sitting top of the table after picking up 19 points from their first nine league games.

Sunderland's strong start is even more impressive considering that Le Bris has stuck with many of the same players that struggled in the second half of last season under Michael Beale and Mike Dodds, although the squad was bolstered by the arrival of 10 new signings this summer, including the likes of Chris Mepham, Alan Browne, Wilson Isidor, and Ahmed Abdullahi.

While it has been a hugely positive season so far for the Black Cats, some players will be unhappy with their lack of game time under Le Bris, such as midfielder Adil Aouchiche and winger Abdoullah Ba. Indeed, the duo are facing uncertain futures on Wearside.

It is a surprise that both Aouchiche and Ba have fallen out of favour at Sunderland but the former's omission is particularly notable.

Aouchiche joined the Black Cats from Lorient last summer. While he was not always a regular starter, he enjoyed a decent first season at the Stadium of Light, scoring two goals and providing two assists in 28 appearances.

Many had assumed that Aouchiche would be a key player for Sunderland this season, given that he had worked under Le Bris previously at Lorient, but it has not worked out that way so far.

Aouchiche has made just two appearances in all competitions this campaign, and he has not even featured in the matchday squad since being introduced as a late substitute in the 4-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday in August.

Ba made the move to Wearside from Le Havre in the summer of 2022, and prior to the start of this season, he had scored four goals and registered five assists in 73 games for the Black Cats.

The 21-year-old was a regular last season, and he was one of the club's better performers in what was an underwhelming campaign, but he is yet to play a single minute in the Championship this term, with his only appearance coming in the 2-0 defeat at Preston North End in the EFL Cup in August.

Sunderland may reprise summer transfer stance over out-of-favour duo

Aouchiche and Ba were reportedly both free to leave the Stadium of Light this summer, but they were unable to secure moves, and Le Bris insisted last month that the door is open for the pair to force their way back into contention.

"It's possible yes. We have Adil, Abdoullah, Milan (Aleksic) as well is available," Le Bris told The Northern Echo.

"It's a question of the dynamic, the momentum of the game - so we will see. Adil and Abdoullah are with us until the next transfer window, so they have my trust as players of Sunderland and players who have qualities to play and perform in the game.

"Because they had the opportunity to leave, they needed to reconnect to the project and I like their behaviour in the training sessions this week."

Even though he has not featured, Ba has at least been included on the bench for the last three games, which could suggest that Le Bris' stance on the winger is beginning to change.

The situation is much more concerning for Aouchiche, and the fact that two academy products - Zak Johnson and Tommy Watson - were named among the substitutes ahead of him against Leeds on Friday shows just how far he is down the pecking order.

While Aouchiche and Ba have failed to perform consistently during their time at Sunderland, they have both shown glimpses of their quality, and they would be useful players to call upon over the course of the season.

However, Aouchiche and Ba do not seem to be part of Le Bris' plans, and neither player will be keen to sit on the bench at this stage of their career, so the duo's departure in January could be the right move for all parties.