They say every cloud has a silver lining, and Regis Le Bris has learned a lot from Sunderland’s recent flurry of injuries and suspensions.
Specifically, he has learned that a few of his players have far more strings adorning their bow than some would previously have believed.
Regis Le Bris lauded Sunderland full-back Trai Hume after the 0-0 draw with West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday.
Making his 100th appearance for the Black Cats, Hume slotted in at left-back due to the absence of Dennis Cirkin and kept Tom Fellows – the Championship’s second-highest assist-producer – pretty quiet.
Sunderland skipper Luke O’Nien, meanwhile, stepped into Hume’s boots on the right-hand flank. And, just days after Eliezer Mayenda impressed Le Bris during the trip with Millwall, the Spanish striker proved that he can play on the left as well as the right if required as he stepped off the bench against West Brom.
Trai Hume, Luke O’Nien and Eliezer Mayenda impress in new Sunderland roles
“We are still finding out the different qualities of our players because they’re young,” Le Bris told reporters during his Thursday press conference, speaking ahead of tomorrow night’s clash with promotion rivals Sheffield United.
“I am still in a period of discovering what they can do.
“Like with Luke and Trai, or Eliezer, they are trying new positions. [Mayenda] started as a ‘nine’ then had an opportunity as a ‘seven’, and he played as an ‘eleven’ against West Brom.
“[It cannot be decided in] one game that you are now able or unable to play certain positions.”
Mayenda, a centre-forward by trade, has helped fill the void created by the absences of both Patrick Roberts and Romain Mundle. Hume, meanwhile, could be an option to stick around at left-back for as long as Cirkin is unavailable after surgery.
Le Bris, however, is keen to keep Wilson Isidor in the position where his movement, work-rate and fearsome finishing ability can be utilised most effectively.
Sunderland’s seven-goal top scorer struggled on the left in the recent stalemate with Preston North End. Isidor returned pretty quickly to his favoured number nine role after that, with Le Bris deploying Aaron Connolly in a deeper role to acommodate the Frenchman at The Den.
Regis Le Bris will keep Wilson Isidor as Sunderland’s number nine
“We can keep consistency in someone like Wilson in the middle,” adds Le Bris. “We have a striker with confidence and who’s his style of play suits the league. But, for others, their own dynamics will dictate that.
“And, to get them more minutes, we will try them in scenarios against specific opponents, to gain experience, and then manage that in games.”
For those of a glass-half full perspective, that West Brom draw takes Sunderland’s unbeaten run to ten games in England’s second tier. Those feeling somewhat less optimistic about the Black Cats’ promotion prospects, however, will point out that the Wearsiders have now suffered five successive Championship draws.
Sunderland moved five points clear at the top as Wilson Isidor’s stunning volley saw off Oxford United a month ago. Now, a defeat against Sheffield United at Brammal Lane four weeks on could see the Black Cats fall five points adrift of the summit.
Midweek victories for Sheffield United, Leeds and Burnley dropped Sunderland down to fourth.