Why Granit Xhaka isn’t playing for Sunderland against West Ham today | Football

Granit Xhaka has been ruled out of Sunderland’s Premier League clash with West Ham United this afternoon.

The previous Arsenal star, who joined the Black Cats from Bayer Leverkusen in the summertime, has been ever-present within the team this season, starting all 22 of their Premier League matches

The club captain has played the complete 90 in all but one in all those but won’t be involved today.

Xhaka picked up an ankle issue in last weekend’s victory over Crystal Palace, sidelining him this afternoon.

Eliezer Mayenda replaces him within the Sunderland starting XI on the London Stadium.

A press release from Sunderland said: ‘Granit Xhaka has been ruled out of today’s trip to West Ham United.

‘The midfielder sustained an ankle injury in last weekend’s victory over Crystal Palace and is now undergoing a period of rehabilitation on the Academy of Light.’

Sunderland have been having fun with a sublime campaign back in the highest flight but have slipped to ninth after a run of only one win of their last six in a period where the club lost quite a few players to the Africa Cup of Nations.

They bounced back with victory over Palace last outing and will climb back into fourth place, albeit temporarily, with a win within the day’s early kick-off.

‘It’s an enormous difference but we want to follow plan and hopefully he gets higher soon,’ Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey said ahead of kick-off in east London.

‘But for now we’ve to follow the plan and win the sport.’

MORE: N’Golo Kante transfer stance revealed as Chelsea hold talks over midfielder signing

MORE: Bruno Guimaraes injury latest ahead of Newcastle United vs Aston Villa

MORE: Mikel Arteta reveals why Arsenal didn’t sign Benjamin Sesko ahead of Viktor Gyokeres