Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris currently has a bit of a selection headache going into the new season.
Sunderland now have three more pre-season friendlies to play before they kick off their 2024/25 Championship season.
Sunderland travel to Cardiff City on August 10th and so far, Regis Le Bris has had four games with his new players.
The Black Cats have beaten South Shields and Eldense in pre-season games, drawing with Nottingham Forest and losing to Gateshead.
The Sunderland first-team squad is returning from Spain where they played Forest and then Eldense.
It was another great chance for Le Bris to work on his shape and style and to take a look at all of his players, with some looking sharper than others.
One player who’s been a bit of challenge since his arrival last summer is Luis Hemir; arriving from Benfica, the striker failed to score in 23 Championship outings last season, with Sunderland fans criticising Hemir for some of his performances.
But he scored an impressive ranged goal in the 2-1 win vs Eldense during what was a 45-minute run out for the Portuguese striker.
And with no new striker through the doors at the Stadium of Light just yet, there’s still a slight chance that Hemir leads the line for Sunderland at Cardiff.
Phil Smith drops verdict on Luis Hemir at Sunderland after Eldense wonder goal
Speaking after the win over Eldense, journalist Phil Smith gave his latest verdict on Hemir, and where he might stand in the pecking order as we near the start of the new season.
Speaking on The Roar, Smith said of Hemir: “What an enigma, really. An interesting goal because in some ways, it’s not a huge surprise.
“The one thing we’ve known about Hemir since day one is that he can finish.
“He did it in pre-season last year, albeit not as spectacular that [goal v Eldense], and you speak to anyone at the club, he does that in training. His finishing is really good, it’s just that the rest of his game isn’t quite there yet.”
“I don’t really have an answer for that one, as to how they crack it. At the moment, I still like it’s very unlikely that he starts the Championship season up front.
“But who knows, maybe that goal can be a catalyst for him.”
Luis Hemir’s 2024/25 season at Sunderland may hinge on a few things
The Black Cats look set to sign at least one striker this summer, with Sunderland trying to sign Alexandre Mendy from Caen.
That may not be enough, and if sporting director Kristjaan Speakman decides to bring in another after Mendy, either permanently or on loan, that could throw Hemir even further down the pecking order.
Then if Eliezer Mayenda impresses in pre-season, and Nazariy Rusyn too, Hemir may be surplus to requirements. But still being so young, a loan move away would then become very likely.
So Hemir certainly faces an uncertain few weeks ahead. But his goal vs Eldense does his chances of Championship football next season no harm, and like Smith says, he’s still a well-regarded finisher.
Le Bris just needs to find a way of getting more out of Hemir when he’s not in possession.