Final days of him as a starter? (with who instead? Pellegrini?) Because he got a muscle injury when he been playing games nonstop over the summer, get couple weeks break, then immediately start the season again?
I never usually wish ill-will on a player but this could be beneficial. If Pellegrini thrives in that position for however long he is out for, Sandro could have a competition on his hands, which might reinvigorate that determined and motivated mindset he had during the Evra years. He's been lacking it a lot recently.