Sunderland held an open training session for supporters on Tuesday morning, with one injured star spotted in the action.
Sunderland gave their diehard supporters an open training session on Tuesday morning, for which a fair few were pictured in the Stadium of Light amid this fine start to the 2024/25 campaign.
Regis Le Bris’ side currently sit in 1st place of the Championship table after a dominant Sunderland beat Oxford United 2-0 over the weekend.
Sunderland capped a perfect nine-point week upon the return of football after the October international break and now boast a five-point lead at the top of the second tier table.
And this fine form is with yet another quite lengthy injury list for Sunderland. It includes deadline day signings Salis Abdul Samed and Ahmed Abdullahi, as well as defenders Jenson Seelt, Dan Ballard, Aji Alese and Niall Huggins, and summer signing Ian Poveda.
Elsewhere, striker Eliezer Mayenda has been missing in recent weeks.
Eliezer Mayenda spotted in Sunderland open training session
Mayenda, 19, has now missed the last six league games for the Black Cats through injury.
It comes after the Spaniard lead the line in the opening weeks of the season, with Mayenda scoring his first Sunderland goals in the 4-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday back in August.
Speaking before the Hull City game, Le Bris said that Mayenda was close to returning for Sunderland.
And now it seems as though Mayenda really is closing in on a return to action after being spotted in the open training session on Tuesday, ahead of the Black Cats’ Championship clash against QPR this weekend.
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Eliezer Mayenda working hard in Sunderland training as he dreams big with Black Cats
Mayenda had to be patient last season, only really getting his chance to impress in the pre-season under Le Bris.
But he certainly impressed. He’s already got two goals and two assists in six Championship appearances this season, and the additions of Wilson Isidor and Aaron Connolly gives Le Bris and Mayenda too, some very strong and welcome competition.
Speaking earlier this month, Mayenda revealed he’s working hard every day in Sunderland training, idolising former Brazil striker Ronaldo.
Mayenda said: “He [Ronaldo] was the most complete no.9 of all time.
“If you want to help the team, you need to be fast, technical, strong. Ronaldo is a good example of that.
“He can shoot, score goals, defend, he was fast, strong and technical and I work every day in training to become all of those things. All of this will make me better.”
Sunderland travel to 23rd place QPR for a 3pm kick off on Saturday.