Sunderland take on Burnley on Friday night in a huge game, but Black Cats fans just can’t stop thinking about Enzo Le Fee’s much-anticipated debut.
The January transfer window has already been a huge success for Sunderland, with the acquisition of Enzo Le Fee hailed as one of the best Championship signings of all time.
Anyone tuning in to watch Burnley vs Sunderland on Friday will be hoping to catch a glimpse of the Frenchman in action, but Regis Le Bris has a lot of midfielders to choose from.
So, will he select Le Fee, or stick with his tried and tested options? The Sunderland manager has revealed all in his latest press conference.
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Enzo Le Fee is ready to face Burnley, but only if it’s right for the team
Speaking to the press (via the club’s official YouTube channel), Le Bris hinted at Le Fee’s debut, and explained how he will utilise the new signings in the already very talented Sunderland midfield.
On his chances of starting Le Fee versus Burnley, Le Bris said: “First of all he is ready to play. He didn’t play a lot at Roma but he is fit. At the same time we have to respect the legacy, a new player can come in and change everything but it is not always possible.
“He is strong, but the quality of the team is important, and he has to take steps to connect with the team. It depends on the game, the scenario, the players available. But he is ready, and we will have to see on Friday.”
In terms of where Le Fee can fit into the system alongside the likes of Dan Neil and Jobe Bellingham, Le Bris added: “He is versatile, so it’s a good quality. He can adapt to different positions. His best is in the middle, the 6, 8 or 10. We needed depth there, so we will see how we use him.
“It’s good news for everyone, because we need to maintain a high pace. Having players like this will help us play at a higher level.”
Enzo Le Fee should be on the bench, changing the starting XI now would be a mistake
It’s difficult to call a predicted XI for Sunderland when it comes to this clash with Burnley. So much is at stake, and Le Bris could either gamble on his new signing, or stick with the team that has got him this far.
We know Le Fee will have a big role to play as the season goes on, but now is not the time to disrupt the momentum Sunderland have gathered.
It’s a real selection dilemma for Le Bris, but a nice problem to have. Keeping faith in his captain and the talismanic Jobe would be the sensible option, and it will allow Sunderland to get a feel for the situation at Turf Moor before introducing Le Fee.
Throwing the new man into the midfield from the start is a lot to ask of any player, but allowing him to come off the bench with fresh legs could make all the difference in this promotion six-pointer.