Sunderland will be missing their star goalkeeper when they face Albion at the Stadium Of Light.

Robin Roefs has been ruled out for next fortnight or so with a hamstring problem.

That looks like sidelining him when the Seagulls go to Wearside a week on Saturday.

Roefs has been one of the best keepers in the Premier League this season and would have gone head-to-head with fellow Holland squad member Bart Verbruggen.

But Regis Le Bris felt debutant Melker Ellborg typified his young squad’s mentality in Sunderland’s 1-0 Premier League win at Leeds on Tuesday night.

The 22-year-old Swede made his first appearance for the Black Cats, who halted a four-game winless run thanks to Habib Diarra’s second-half penalty, which was their only shot on target at Elland Road.

Ellborg, signed last month from Malmo for £3 million, made two crucial saves to keep out Anton Stach’s first-half free-kick and Jaka Bijol’s stoppage-time effort.

Le Bris said: “(Roefs’ injury) shouldn’t be too serious, which is good news, but we still need back-up and Melker from day one showed that he wanted to learn....