Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris faced the press on Thursday afternoon.
Regis Le Bris faced the press on Thursday ahead of his Championship debut with Sunderland on Saturday.
The Black Cats travel to Cardiff City in their opening game of the 2024/25 Championship season.
Erol Bulut’s Cardiff City have prepared well this summer, signing the likes of former Sunderland target Chris Willock and former Arsenal man Calum Chambers.
Sunderland meanwhile have signed four players with Alan Browne and Ian Poveda the pick of the bunch.
But sporting director Kristjaan Speakman is yet to bring a new striker to Sunderland.
It’s proving to be a testing matter for the Black Cats. It comes after Sunderland were linked with Alexandre Mendy, and then Ike Ugbo who’s now poised to join Sheffield Wednesday.
Speaking to the press on Thursday, Le Bris was quizzed on the club’s ongoing striker search.
Regis Le Bris quizzed on Sunderland striker search under Kristjaan Speakman
Le Bris has played Eliezer Mayenda up front for much of the pre-season.
Though who starts against Cardiff City still remains something of a mystery; Le Bris though appeared to hint towards Mayenda starting vs Cardiff.
Quizzed on the striker position and the club’s ongoing search for a new one, Le Bris told the press:
“As a head coach, we still have two ideas; the first is to work with the team.
“So we have many talented players in this team, many strikers, Eliezer Mayenda for example, and we will work with this team against Cardiff.
“My main concern at the moment is to work with these guys.
“On the other hand, we want to improve the team, and it’s difficult to find the right player, the right people to work with in the club, because the responsibility is high.
“It’s not just a question of finding someone, it’s a question of finding the right player for our team.”
Asked whether he’s frustrated at the lack of a striker signing, Le Bris responded: “Not really, because I like the players I have at the moment. I think we have good potential.”
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Is Eliezer Mayenda ready to start for Sunderland vs Cardiff City
Mayenda, 19, hasn’t yet made a start for Sunderland in the Championship, featuring eight times in the league last season before going out on loan to Hibernian.
And in Scotland, the Spanish striker made just two league appearances before returning to the Academy of Light this summer.
But he’s looked sharp. Mayenda has clearly impressed Le Bris who started Mayenda in the friendly vs Marseille last time out.
And due to the lack of options up top, and the likelihood of Jobe Bellingham playing deeper vs Cardiff, it seems as though Mayenda is the logical option to start up front this weekend.
Still, it can’t be denied that Sunderland desperately lack experience and quality in that position, and if Sunderland don’t eventually sign a new no.9 then Le Bris may well become frustrated.