Unfortunately for one member of Regis Le Bris’ squad, a return to fitness of his Sunderland teammate relegates him to the bench for Friday’s trip to Championship rivals Sheffield United.
Though, from their respective vantage points in the opposite dugouts, you can guarantee that Blades boss Chris Wilder will find the time to exchange handshakes with a player upon whom he owes much of his Bramall Lane legacy.
Simon Moore is back on the bench for Sunderland these days.
The return of Anthony Patterson after a brief spell on the sidelines ensures that Moore – brought in over the summer to provide back-up for the Black Cats’ regular number one – is unlikely to feature in Championship action again in a hurry.
That is, of course, presuming that Patterson can avoid any setbacks.
Chris Wilder pays tribute to Sunderland’s Simon Moore
Now 34, Moore appears to be winding down his career somewhat at Wearside. Wilder, though, prefers to remember the veteran shot-stopper at the peak of his powers.
Moore was Wilder’s go-to glovesman as Sheffield United stormed out of League One back in 2017.
And while Moore may have lost his spot by the time Sheffield United returned to the Premier League just two years later, the Bramall Lane boss will always have a special place in his heart for the one-time Brentford, Cardiff and Bristol City man.
“I love him to bits,” Wilder said during his Thursday press conference. “[Moore] was one of our early signings and he was outstanding in League One and, just as a general person and character, he’s brilliant.
“He’s such a fabulous guy.”
Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris is a Moore fan himself, of course. The Frenchman was glowing in his praise for Moore’s professionalism during his four-match run in the starting XI recently.
What’s more, Moore kept a clean sheet in all but one of his Sunderland appearances until Patterson’s return.
“I’m delighted for him,” Wilder adds. “He’s been playing games at Sunderland. I’m not so sure he’s going to start on Friday, but it’s always a pleasure and he was a big part of the start of the journey we went on.”
Regis Le Bris expects tough challenge at Sheffield United
Sunderland drew 0-0 with West Brom in midweek, meaning the Black Cats have now failed to win any of their last five Championship fixtures. The stalemate specialists are, at least, still in the midst of a ten game undefeated streak.
One suspects Le Bris and co would bite your hand off if offered the chance to continue that run in the Steel City.
Especially knowing that, if Sunderland do lose for the first time since September on Friday, Sheffield United will extend their advantage over Le Bris’ team to five points.
“I don’t know if it will be the opposite [to West Brom’s defensive gameplan], but it will be different,” Le Bris wonders during his own presser. “It is still the case in this league that it is always a tough challenge and a different style of play.
“For us, as I explained, we need to be versatile with our game model. It’s about how we can press in the midfield and how can we defend in our third, we need to watch out for the balance in midfield and watch out for the set pieces.”