Sunderland will welcome a vital player back into the fold when they play Hull City at the Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon.
It might turn out to be a very important point in Sunderland’s season. Despite Romaine Mundle’s comeback to the team for Monday night’s trip to Elland Road, Régis Le Bris decided against starting the winger as the Black Cats lost to Leeds United in the closing minutes. Mundle hadn’t returned to full training long enough to influence a game of such magnitude, the Sunderland head coach reasoned. But after a few more days, Le Bris made it apparent that Mundle was prepared to quit before Hull City’s visit.
This has two implications for Sunderland’s promotion campaign. First, Sunderland has obviously lacked the explosiveness that Mundle and Tommy Watson provided on the left wing, despite Enzo Le Fée’s genius. With Sunderland’s style built in large part to feed its wingers as early in a move as possible so they can isolate and then attack the full back, both players took up the mantle from Jack Clarke in that position with astonishing ease. Additionally, each time they have taken the field, they have posed a goal threat. Given that Watson won’t be back for another week or two, Le Bris can use a left-wing specialist for the final stretch and possibly the playoffs.
When facing a worn-out defender off the bench, the two can switch places, with one starting and the other providing new legs.
What it might signify for Le Fée and the team as a whole, however, is equally important. Since joining the squad, the Frenchman has been quite talented, frequently influencing the game even when playing a position that is not his strength. He showed that his skill and poise can make the difference from anywhere on the field in what was maybe the best individual performance from a Sunderland player this season against Middlesbrough.
However, it’s obvious that this is not his preferred role. In an interview with Le Bris following one of his first red-and-white appearances, he stated as much, pointing out how much the position requires ongoing one-on-one fights. Le Fée excels at dictating the pace of the game and making the last pass, but he also possesses the quality and individual ability to get past opponents. That is precisely what Mundle’s return—and Watson’s to come—will enable him to do.
Obviously, the next question is, “Well, at whose expense?” Dan Neil has been Sunderland’s most reliable player since his incredible goal against Swansea City. This season, Jobe Bellingham has excelled, and it says much about Sunderland that they have struggled to win when he has been missing. Meanwhile, Chris Rigg is having a successful campaign and has demonstrated an unmistakable eye for goal. However, Le Bris would say that it is irrelevant. Since all three have played a significant amount of football this season, Rigg in particular may be able to regain his peak performance from early in the campaign with the occasional break.
The impact might be significant even though Le Bris may only be replacing one or two players from the core of the team that they have depended on throughout the season. Alan Browne is also anticipated to return to Le Bris at some point in the upcoming weeks, if not tomorrow, then possibly next Friday against Sheffield Wednesday. More fresh legs and a man with a ton of Championship experience can only be beneficial, especially as Sunderland is having trouble holding onto leads in the closing minutes of games and Salis Abdul Samed isn’t playing at his best after missing so much time due to injury.
Sunderland will need depth in their team and their key players performing in their preferred positions if they are to gain promotion to the Premier League, whether that means making a late run for the top two or the play-offs. If the campaign is prolonged, Le Fée in particular might be the difference. So far, he has been a true delight to watch, and the best might still be ahead.
For more:https://sportchannel.co.uk/2025/02/21/the-intriguing-a…ng-forward-to-it/
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