Sunderland have fielded a free agent for their pre-season friendly vs South Shields on Saturday.
Sunderland take on South Shields away from home on Saturday, in their first pre-season friendly under new head coach Regis Le Bris.
The Black Cats then go into another friendly match soon after, taking on neighbours Gateshead at 5pm.
For the game vs South Shields, which kicked off at 12:30pm on Saturday afternoon, Le Bris fielded a relatively strong starting XI.
Trai Hume, Dan Ballard, Leo Hjelde and Joseph Anderson made up the back four, with Dan Neil, Chris Rigg, Patrick Roberts, Adil Aouchiche, and Romaine Mundle playing in what appeared to be a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Youngster Eliezer Mayenda started as the lone striker following his loan spell with Hibernian in the second half of last season.
But in goal there was a new name for Sunderland fans and indeed Le Bris to take a look at on Saturday afternoon.
Blondy Nna Noukeu starts in goal for Sunderland vs South Shields
It was recently reported that Sunderland have offered a contract to free agent goalkeeper Blondy Nna Noukeu, following the Cameroonian’s release by Stoke City.
It comes amid a bit of a shake up in the Sunderland goalkeeping department with the future of no.1 Anthony Patterson seemingly uncertain amid Premier League interest.
Simon Moore arrived on a free transfer earlier this summer. Le Bris also has youngsters such as Matty Young looking to make an impression on the first-team this summer.
Noukeu started in goal for Sunderland vs South Shields though, suggesting that he’s either signed a contract with the Black Cats or that Noukeu is yet to make a firm decision on the offer from Sunderland.
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What could happen with Sunderland’s goalkeeping department this summer
Should Nna Noukeu arrive at Sunderland, which certainly looks likely, then it could mean that Young is loaned at.
That seems inevitable given his impressive loan spell with Darlington last season and the low chances of him getting any first-team experience with Sunderland next season.
And should Patterson leave then Sunderland may even give Moore a chance at staking his claim for the no.1 spot; he brings Championship experience to the side with 79 second tier appearances under his belt.
Or it could mean another goalkeeper signing; likely a young goalkeeper but one with enough experience to step into the Championship, leaving Noukeu as the third-choice.
Le Bris is certainly going to have plenty of goalkeeping options in years to come with some exciting names, like Young, starting to break through.