Alderete and Mukiele both missed Saturday’s friendly win at Lens because of injury issues, and neither is expected to be involved in this weekend’s final pre-season game against Rennes at the Stadium of Light.
Their injuries are not especially serious, but even if they were to return to full training next week, Le Bris would be reluctant to pitch them straight into the starting line-up for the season-opener against Ipswich Town at Portman Road.
While Sunderland are assessing their transfer options and could opt to sign some additional defensive cover in the remainder of the window, that would almost certainly mean O’Nien partnering Dan Ballard at centre-half against Ipswich with summer signing Thomas Meunier lining up at right-back.
“With Nordi, it’s not too serious,” said Le Bris. “It’s a shame because I think his pre-season was really good. So just minor, but we need to take care of him.
“With Omar, it was an injury during the last game, just before the last game – so it’s just about stiffness, It’s not major, but it’s important to build his condition, so probably both of them should be on the bench for Ipswich, I think.”
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While O’Nien spent most of the first half of last season on the fringe of things, he proved his Premier League capabilities in the second half of the campaign.
The 31-year-old featured in seven of Sunderland’s final ten league matches last term, and performed impressively against Lens last weekend.
Le Bris has no concerns about pitching him in alongside Ballard at Ipswich, and expects O’Nien to be an important figure as the Black Cats attempt to juggle the challenge of the Europa League with the demands of the Premier League programme this season.
“Luke now has one year in the Premier League,” said Le Bris. “When we first started last season, we didn’t know [how he would fare]. Now, we know he’s ready to be competitive in that league. He’s an excellent club captain and he’s very good on the pitch, so it’s very positive for us ahead of the season.”
Romaine Mundle and Simon Adingra both missed last weekend’s friendly win because of their own injury issues.
Like Mukiele and Alderete, Mundle’s latest setback is not regarded as particularly serious and he should be available at some stage this month.
Sunderland’s medical staff are still assessing the ankle injury Adingra suffered during the recent pre-season game with Wrexham in the United States.
The winger, who has been the subject of strong transfer interest from West Ham, has been pictured wearing a protective boot covering the bottom half of his left leg.
It remains to be seen whether the setback affects his transfer position this summer, as it had been thought likely that the Black Cats would allow him to leave after he spent the second half of last season on loan at Monaco.
West Ham were reportedly preparing a formal offer, but they may shelve their interest if Adingra’s injury is set to keep him on the sidelines for a lengthy spell.
“Romaine Mundle is injured as well,” confirmed Le Bris. “He’s got a kick on his ankle so that one is minor. Simon might be a bit longer, we are still monitoring his ankle and we need to wait.”