Sunderland Director of Football Kristjaan Speakman has outlined the reasons behind Jewison Bennette’s departure.
Since arriving this summer, Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris has been bold in managing his squad. This has meant that several players in-and-around the squad that finished in a lacklustre 16th place in the 2023/24 season have not featured this season.
One of which is Costa Rican winger Jewison Bennette. The attacker was given a handful of gametime throughout the last two seasons, but had completely fallen down the pecking order on Wearside.
After being unable to get a move away from the club in the summer and January, with Bennette coming close to a move to Charlton in the winter transfer window, he has finally moved on from the Stadium of Light, joining LNZ Cherkasy.
After his move away from the club, Kristjaan Speakman has outlined the reasons as to why he was given a permanent move and why his chance for the first team was so limited.
Kristjaan Speakman on why Jewison Bennette game time became ‘limited’ at Sunderland
Bennette has been predominantly used for the U21s, and was last involved in a first team clash in the EFL Cup against Preston North End, where he came on for eight minutes in a second-string side.
He has performed on occasions for the U21 side, scoring a brace against Middlesbrough earlier this campaign, but the opportunities to progress into Le Bris’ squad haven’t come into fruition, despite previous injuries to the likes of Romaine Mundle and Tommy Watson.
After Bennette completed his move to LNZ Cherkasy, via the club’s in-house media, Speakman said: “We believe Jewison needs to play regularly in first-team environment, and due to the progression of our team, opportunities have become increasingly limited for him at Sunderland. This move will enable him to continue his development, and we believe this is the right step for him at an important time. We all wish Jewison well in the next chapter of his career.”
The 20-year-old winger was handed 18 appearances in all competitions in the 2022/23 season, which notably included a substitute appearance away at Watford, where he bagged a late equaliser.
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Jewison Bennette has been mishandled by Regis Le Bris and Kristjaan Speakman
At the start of the 2024/25 campaign, many players deemed not good enough for the current squad were proactively sent out on loan. Because of this, Nectarios Triantis is thriving with Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership, whilst Pierre Ekwah has retained a place in St Etienne’s side as a key man.
Whilst Timothee Pembele has been out of form for Le Havre, and certainly doesn’t look to be a part of Le Bris’ long term plans, he was still given that opportunity at the start of the season.
The fact that Bennette has been left in the U21 side may have hampered his progression as a player, and whilst we only saw doses in that 2022/23 season of his quality, he certainly didn’t deserve to be isolated away from the first team, especially with the injury woes handed to Le Bris.