Lord knows Regis Le Bris’ Sunderland need a boost.
Because, while the Frenchman’s tactics and game-management have come under fire from some sections of the Black Cats support during a run of one win in eight Championship matches, there are certainly mitigating factors.
In particular, the injury issues which have hit Sunderland hard.
Dennis Cirkin missed three games following a broken wrist which required surgery to fix. Alan Browne is out too.
And with Tommy Watson joining Romain Mundle and Ian Poveda on the sidelines – Regis Le Bris confirmed Watson could miss two months ahead of Saturday’s clash with Swansea City – do not be surprised if Adil Aouchiche ends up making a first start of the campaign at some point between now and the end of the festive fixture schedule.
In a rare piece of good news, however, Le Bris confirmed that Salis Abdul Samed – the forgotten man of Wearside – could finally be in line to make his long-awaited Sunderland debut when 2025 begins.
Regis Le Bris sets date for Salis Abdul Samed’s Sunderland return
“Salis is on the way,” Le Bris tells reporters. “I think this week was [number] eleven of eleven of his recovery programme, so it should be around one week more before he is ready to join us in full training.
“So, I’m hopeful he will be ready for the team at the beginning of January.”
A Ghana international who has played nearly 100 games in France’s top flight as well as featuring in the Champions League with RC Lens, Samed arrived at Sunderland with no shortage of pedigree.
But, after suffering a setback in October, that nightmare muscle issue means the Black Cats faithful are yet to see him in action nearly four months after his arrival in late-August.
Some reports had even suggested that Lens could terminate his temporary Sunderland contract.
A steady if not exactly expansive distributor, Samed could yet prove to be an inspired addition to a Black Cats team pushing for promotion. He completed nearly 90 per cent of his passes in Ligue 1 last term, and feels like a pretty good fit for Le Bris’ possession-heavy principles.
“The Championship is arguably not that far off Ligue 1 in terms of quality,” French football expert Jeremy Smith explains to Founded1879. “It is also a similar type of football. Physical, but with very talented, skilful young, attacking players.
“As for Sunderland, the obvious French links [with Le Bris] will help him to feel quickly at home, as will playing for a passionate crowd from the industrial north of the country where football is almost religion.
“Something that he also experienced at Lens.”
Le Bris still has ‘options’ despite Tommy Watson blow
With Samed still unavailable for the next few weeks, however, Le Bris is expected to field his usual midfield trio of Jobe Bellingham, Chris Rigg and Dan Neil when Sunderland travel to South Wales.
Options are certainly more stretched on the left-wing, though. So much so that Le Bris cannot rule out re-calling Nazariy Rusyn; A man not seen at all since October.
Aouchiche will hope to be involved from the start after setting up Patrick Roberts’ stoppage time equaliser during Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Bristol City.
“Yes I think [we have options for the left-hand side],” Le Bris adds. “We will find a solution. We don’t have choice!
“We will find something because we have many young players. We know we can discover many things because they are so young. Probably, they don’t know how good they can be, so we have to find out new solutions all the time.
“We have the options in our mind. We will see [what team I pick] for Swansea.”