'No point lying' - Regis Le Bris delivers frank verdict on why Pierre Ekwah was allowed to leave Sunderland

Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris has explained the reasoning behind allowing Pierre Ekwah to leave the club on loan in the closing stages of the summer transfer window.

The midfielder completed a temporary switch - with an option-to-buy clause attached - to French outfit AS Saint-Etienne last week, after having failed to make much of an impact on the first team picture at the Stadium of Light since Le Bris’ arrival. The 22-year-old failed to record a single minute of action during the Black Cats’ opening three Championship matches, but did play the entirety of the EFL Cup defeat to Preston North End.

And now, Le Bris has suggested that a loan exit was the best solution for the player. Speaking to French outlet Poteaux Carres, the Sunderland boss said: ”Pierre is on loan at Saint-Etienne, and that’s what his story is all about. He says so himself. It’s not that he’s had enough, but he needs something new. Pierre needs to see something a bit different.

“I didn’t have much time with him because he was injured during part of pre-season. I can’t say that I know this player from every angle. I played him throughout the League Cup match against Preston North End in mid-August but didn’t start him in the first few league games before he left for Saint-Etienne. But I analysed him well last season. I think Pierre is a boy who needs a new challenge. He’s a gifted player with a lot of qualities, but he needs an exciting challenge to motivate him and keep him going.

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“When the collective story doesn’t quite match up with your individual story, you have to make sure that each side keeps moving forward. Here at Sunderland, we have quite a few players available in midfield. In itself, we didn’t have an urgent need to have Pierre with us. He felt he needed a new environment to continue to develop, and so did we. His loan actually makes sense.

“When the planets are no longer aligned and everyone realises it, there’s no point in lying to ourselves. That doesn’t call into question the quality of the player or the quality of the environment at Sunderland. It’s just the way the story goes.”