Sunderland have four points from the opening five games of the Premier League season

Régis Le Bris insists that Sunderland will start picking up more Premier League points quickly if they can maintain the overall performance level they showed over the course of a demanding week.

The Black Cats enter the three-week international break on the back of consecutive Premier League defeats, but having caused Arsenal and Manchester City real problems in both games. In between those defeats, Sunderland beat a strong AZ Alkmaar side 1-0 to secure three points in their first European game for 53 years. The Sunderland head coach says there is frustration with the recent league results but says that the example of Brian Brobbey, who was rewarded for his improving displays with a brilliant hat trick at the Etihad Stadium, shows that the team will get their reward eventually.

"It was a tough week - Arsenal, Alkmaar and then Manchester City," Le Bris said.

"So it's positive from the style of play and level of the squad. Not so much about the points, but the reality of the Premier League is this. You have to go through difficult period points wise but the level of the squad gets better, like Brian did, [and then] it's just a question of time before winning points."

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Régis Le Bris issues Habib Diarra injury update

Le Bris is also hopeful that he'll be bolstered by the return of Habib Diarra during the busy schedule that awaits Sunderland on their return from the international break.

Diarra has been absent since the 1-0 win over Fulham, in which he came on from the bench to assist Wilson Isidor before suffering a hamstring injury. Diarra is set for a scan to determine whether he can progress to the final stages of his rehab and while it's not clear whether he'll be back in time for Brighton's visit to the Stadium of Light, he should be able to make a significant role before the next international break in November.

Le Bris said: "Habib is in a good place, healing really well. He'll have a scan at the beginning of this week just to see where we are, and depending on the result, it's going to be two or three weeks to get ready for competition."

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