Régis Le Bris delivers verdict on Eliezer Mayenda's progress and potential Sunderland position switch
Sunderland are back in Premier League action when they face Bournemouth at the Stadium of Light on Saturday
Régis Le Bris says Eliezer Mayenda could be in line for more minutes from the right wing after his recent substitute cameos in that position.
Mayenda started the season as the club's centre forward, scoring in the opening day win win over West Ham United. Wilson Isidor has subsequently taken his place in the starting XI, with Le Bris using deadline-day signing Brian Brobbey as his impact substitute over recent weeks.
That has seen Mayenda's involvement drop over the last couple of months but Le Bris says that is no cause for concern giving his age. Mayenda played on the right for Spain U21s during the recent international break and so it's something very much on Le Bris's radar. It could also be a route into the team for the 20-year-old over the next month or so, with a number of the club's senior wide players set to depart to the Africa Cup of Nations.
"Yes, it's an option," Le Bris said.
"He played with the Spanish team during the international break and it's true to remind that he's still 20 with almost one season and a half at the professional level. So this gap of the Premier League is big. Not just the opponent, but his teammates as well.
"So when you now you are in the competition with Wilson who is doing well and you have Brian Brobbey who is doing well as well with a strong background in the Netherlands. The competition is high but it's positive for him and for us and they just need support, challenges to grow."
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What Régis Le Bris told his Sunderland squad at the Academy of Light this week
Régis Le Bris has told his Sunderland players to be ready for greater rotation in the weeks ahead.
Le Bris has generally kept faith with a small group of players in the opening months of the campaign, who have led the Black Cats to the brink of 20 points before December and performed very well most weeks. Bournemouth's visit to the Stadium of Light on Saturday marks the start of an intense period, however, with no international break until March and a demanding schedule over the festive period.
It remains to be seen whether Le Bris will make many or indeed any changes on Saturday after a disappointing defeat to Fulham, but the message to those who have been on the fringes so far this season is that their chance is coming sooner rather than later.
"I think naturally, organically, it will happen, for sure," Le Bris said.
"I had this conversation with the players and I told them because we performed well and consistency is key to develop a new squad, I think it was normal to keep the same starting 11 because of the positive outputs we had. Now, with the main course of the season, with many games in a row in a short period of time, organically, it will happen. You will have more opportunities to play, so get ready for that."
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