Adebisi's absence from loss to impressive Black Cats was nothing to do with form explains gaffer.

Defender Rio Adebisi was rested for last night’s home loss to Sunderland after featuring in 13 games already this season. Alex boss David Artell says that the young full-back was ‘unfortunate to miss out’ and that the decision was nothing to do with recent form.

Artell says that he has had to be mindful of the number of games we have coming up and that is why he made four changes to the side that lost 3-0 to Fleetwood Town for the visit of Sunderland.

Artell told the club’s official website: “I have had to be mindful of the fact that we have Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday games and that some needed a rest at some point. I have to be mindful of fatigue and the fact that we don’t want them picking up niggling injuries.

“Rio didn’t miss out due to form. There were others from Saturday who were left out because they didn’t reach the standard we expect of them but Rio wasn’t one of them. He was a bit unfortunate to miss out but that was more to do with giving him a breather. “