The Sunderland players in line for a huge opportunity this weekend as Régis Le Bris weighs up major dilemmas
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Sunderland return to Championship action on Saturday and their trip to Millwall is shaping up to be arguably their toughest test yet this season.
Millwall have been in excellent form and Régis Le Bris already knows that he will be without established first-team players Jobe Bellingham, Patrick Roberts and Trai Hume due to suspension. There are also major doubts over Romaine Mundle and Alan Browne, both of whom were substituted with injuries during the 2-2 draw with Coventry City last time out.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdHowever Le Bris goes, he is almost certainly going to have to turn to at least one player with very limited minutes so far this season. Here's the options he has if Mundle and Browne are out...
Team one - Hand a debut to Milan Aleksić
Just about every variation on an XI for Saturday features a return for Dan Ballard, who seems certain to play having featured twice for Northern Ireland over the international break. The question is how much more disruption Le Bris is prepared to allow elsewhere on the pitch.
The most straightforward choice on that front would be to shift either Luke O'Nien or Chris Mepham across, and hand Aleksić his debut. Le Bris has explained that he expects the Serbian to begin in a very attacking midfield role and so this would likely mean more defensive responsibility for Chris Rigg, but it would otherwise allow the head coach to play with the same shape he has deployed for much of this season. Three of Wilson Isidor, Tommy Watson, Aaron Connolly and Eliezer Mayenda could then all take up the attacking roles around the 19-year-old.
There would have to be some significant doubt as to whether Le Bris would be prepared to take this option, though. He has thus far been extremely cautious with Aleksić, not even handing him a debut from the bench in games where Sunderland have been in command. His explanation of that is that the youngster is still working to overcome the significant language barrier, and get to grips with his game model as a result. The head coach fears that introducing him before he is ready has the potential to significantly damage his development. While the international breaks would ordinarily be a perfect chance for him to work more closely with the team in a prolonged training block, Aleksić has been away with the Serbia youth side. That is excellent for his long-term development, but has underlined Le Bris's caution. Would he therefore risk throwing him in from the start in such a challenging away game? It feels unlikely, but he is thought to have been Sunderland's most significant investment in the summer and he's here to play at some stage.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad4-3-3: Patterson; O'Nien, Ballard, Mepham, Cirkin; Neil, Rigg, Aleksić; Watson, Isidor, Mayenda
Team two - shift to a back three
Though it's a long time since he played such a role, pushing Luke O'Nien up to wing back would have two obvious advantages. It would allow Le Bris to pick another physical defender in a game where they might be useful, and to get another experienced Championship campaigner into the XI on a day where a chunk of the core of his side will be absent.
There would have to be some doubts over whether Aji Alese could start the game given the length of his recent absence, but he seems likely to be in the squad at the very least. Le Bris would also have the option to bring in Leo Hjelde for his first league start of the campaign and in his favoured position. The head coach rates the youngster highly, and has made clear that he would trust him if required.
The harder part of this approach is working out how to get the right blend up front and in midfield, but the absence of Roberts and potentially Mundle could allow Le Bris to go two up front. With Isidor, Connolly and Mayenda all available, that has to be an option. That leaves one attacking midfield role to be filled.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad3-4-3: Patterson; O'Nien, Ballard, Mepham, Hjelde, Cirkin, Neil, Rigg, Watson, Isidor, Connolly
Team three and four - move Luke O'Nien into midfield
This would allow Le Bris to push Neil and Rigg further forward, again maintaining the basic shape of the side that has worked so well this season. Or in a back three, he could play a more attacking player at wing back and potentially bring Tommy Watson back into the side on that basis.
O'Nien has firmly established himself as a Championship centre half now and Sunderland will now be looking to move him there on a regular basis, but as a one-off then it has to be considered a possibility. His development over the last couple of years has been superb and while it's not looked like his best position at this level, he wouldn't let anyone down.
4-3-3: Patterson; Mepham, Ballard, Hjelde, Cirkin; O'Nien, Neil, Rigg; Watson, Isidor, Connolly
Team five - bring Adil Aouchiche back into the fold
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdIn all of the above formations, there is a clear space for an attacking midfielder capable of getting about the pitch and offering some creativity on the ball. While his first season on Wearside wasn't as productive as planned, Aouchiche did show flashes of obvious ability. The issue is that he hasn't kicked a ball for Sunderland's first team since the win over Sheffield Wednesday in August, and is clearly well down the pecking order. Le Bris has always insisted that he remains in contention and has included him in the matchday squad on a semi-regular basis. Both he and Abdoullah Ba were absent from the U21s earlier this week, suggesting that they will be in the 18 on Saturday.
It would represent a major chance of approach from Le Bris if either were to start, and the evidence of this season so far suggests he will look elsewhere first.
Given how regularly he has been involved with the senior group this season, young midfielder Harrison Jones also has to considered as an option. Defender Zak Johnson would also be in that category, though he did play in the U21s earlier this week.
4-2-3-1: Patterson; O'Nien, Mepham, Ballard, Cirkin; Neil, Rigg; Watson, Aouchiche, Isidor; Connolly
Comment Guidelines
National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.