Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris has praised one key player that has massively performed after a poor start to the campaign.
The Black Cats are gearing up to face Portsmouth at home, where they will be hoping to make it back-to-back wins at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland will be expected to replicate their win against Sheffield United, which saw Wilson Isidor and Eliezer Mayenda play a crucial role as a striker duo, bagging a goal each, whilst Anthony Patterson also saved a penalty from former Black Cats striker transfer target Kieffer Moore.
The game certainly gave Regis Le Bris confidence, particularly in the individual displays across the pitch, and the Frenchman has heaped praise on one man who has gone somewhat under the radar in recent weeks.
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Regis Le Bris praises Dan Neil ahead of Sunderland clash with Portsmouth
Sunderland have plenty of strength in-the centre-of-the-park, with Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg often receiving the plaudits, although the latter remains out due to injury.
One man however in the midfield that doesn’t quite get the praise of the teenage duo in front of him is Dan Neil, who was named as the team captain ahead of the 2024/25 Championship campaign.
French boss Le Bris has noticed, not only his impact, but his improvement in a red & white shirt after a somewhat troubling start to the 2024/25 Championship campaign.
In his recent pre-match press conference, Le Bris said in reference to Neil: “He’s really involved to adjust all the behaviour of his teammates, and he’s very clever, very important to balance the team, and at the end, the individual output is not as huge as expected, but he is very important for the team.
“Now his job is done and he can add something more like forward passes, like tackles, like pressing with high intensity, you can feel how strong he is as an individual player but you have to feel at the same time the role he has for the balance of the team is very important for that.”
Dan Neil has shown maturity with adaption to new role
Black Cats midfielder Neil prior to this campaign was more accustomed to finding himself in a slightly more advanced role, something that is no longer the case due to both Neil and Bellingham filling his boots in this position.
Due to the quality that the Sunderland captain possesses, Le Bris made the correct decision to continue utilising Neil, only in a slightly different position at defensive-midfield.
Whilst it was a slow start for Neil this season, the character he has shown to overcome the difficulties in the new role just shows his capabilities when it comes to the character needed in a captain.
The Sunderland star does indeed go under the radar, but no one can take away the fact that he has succeeded in making the defensive-midfield role his own, a position that initially looked like a weak point in the team.