IT'S not yet October but a Sunderland star is already walking a disciplinary tightrope. That - and Regis Le Bris' replacement considerations - features in this week's North East Notes.

There's news of a Newcastle figure taking an interesting study step and a transfer admission concerning former Middlesbrough star Morgan Rogers.

SUNDERLAND PLANNING FOR UNWANTED SCENARIO

Regis Le Bris won't have anticipated being asked about the danger of one of his players picking up five yellow cards before the end of September was out.

But that was the case this week after Trai Hume was booked for the fourth time this season against Middlesbrough.

Thankfully for Sunderland the full-back avoided a caution at Watford yesterday, but he still has 12 more games to negotiate before the cut-off. Another yellow before Sunderland have played 19 games would result in a one-match ban.

Losing Hume would be a blow for two reasons. Firstly because of his consistent excellence and importance. But also because Sunderland don't have any recognised right-backs to replace him.

It is, however, something Le Bris is considering and planning for to ensure Sunderland are prepared if Hume does pick up another yellow in the coming weeks.

Zak Johnson would be an option having played at right-back in the Carabao Cup defeat at Preston earlier this season and Le Bris would also consider moving Luke O'Nien from centre-half to right-back.

"That's possible," he said of the O'Nien switch.

"I'm not sure, we will see. It's one option we have. Luke has played there before, it's an option we'll see, At the minute, Trai still has four (yellow cards). We can wait."

NEWCASTLE'S JACK OF ALL TRADES

Jack Ross is showing himself to be something of a jack of all trades at Newcastle United.

The former Sunderland boss arrived at St James' Park as head of coach development but put his managerial experience to good use when he stepped in to take interim charge of the Under-21s ahead of this week's arrival of Diarmuid O’Carroll.

Ross will initially assist O'Carroll, but now has another string to his bow after recently completing a masters degree in sports directorship, achieving distinction grades.

Writing on LinkedIn, Ross thanked Newcastle's academy director Steve Harper for his "support and accommodation of study commitments and for providing me with an opportunity to observe my industry through a different lens".

Newcastle were delighted to land O'Carroll this week in what Paul Mitchell described as a "crucial" role at the club.

O'Carroll left St Mirren, where he was Stephen Robinson's assistant manager.

Robinson said: "Diarmuid has been excellent for us.

"An opportunity arose and it’s a terrific opportunity for him. We wish him nothing but success and we thank him for the part he has played in our relative success as well."

RECOMMENDED READING:

MORGAN ROGERS ADMISSION

We've talked about Morgan Rogers on several occasions in this column in recent months.

The forward has established himself as one of the brightest attacking talents in the Premier League since his move from Middlesbrough to Aston Villa in January.

It's quite remarkable to think he was a bit-part player on loan at Blackpool before Boro moved to sign the 22-year-old from Manchester City in the summer of 2023.

And one of Michael Carrick's close friends and former colleagues has been left wondering what might have been, for Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna has now admitted he twice tried to sign Rogers earlier in his career.

McKenna will come up against Rogers today when Ipswich face Aston Villa in the Premier League.

And he said: “Morgan Rogers is a player that we know well.

"We were certainly there or thereabouts to bringing him here a couple of times earlier in his career when he was on his loan moves.

"He’s a player that I’ve known for a good number of years. We played against him nine months ago when he was at Middlesbrough, now Aston Villa have improved him and the impact he’s having at Premier League level – though hopefully not this weekend – is great to see."