One top Sunderland performance is set to give Regis Le Bris an impending selection headache.
The Black Cats managed a well-needed 2-1 victory at the Stadium of Light, a first win in six games for Regis Le Bris’ side.
Sunderland, who still sit in 4th, find themselves just two points away from the summit of the Championship table, and their turning around in form is put down to one brilliant showing by young winger Tommy Watson.
The 18-year-old attacker bagged a brace for the Black Cats with a goal in each half to send his side towards a win, and there is plenty of suggestion that French boss Le Bris will continue to get the very best out of him.
However, an impending decision will await Le Bris once one Sunderland star makes a return from injury, and that involves where to slot in Romaine Mundle.
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Regis Le Bris set for Sunderland headache over Tommy Watson and Romaine Mundle
Sunderland’s Watson was emphatic last weekend in the 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United, and he did brilliantly to follow up that fate with an incredible showing for the Black Cats.
He was undoubtedly ‘excellent’, per Sunderland Echo, and that is undoubtedly going to hand Le Bris the issue of whether he sticks with the 18-year-old in the side in favour of Mundle, who was one of the side’s shining lights until his untimely injury.
The Black Cats manager may potentially look towards playing Mundle on the right, but there is no doubt that it would be harsh for Le Bris to drop Patrick Roberts. Whatever decision the French boss makes, it is clear that dropping Watson at this point simply isn’t an option.
Tommy Watson stats vs Stoke City show he must retain starting place after Romaine Mundle return
It was expected that Watson was set to be a stop-gap replacement whilst Mundle underwent his recovery, but the 18-year-old’s performance vs Stoke proved that he can’t have his starting place taken away from him.
Per SofaScore, Watson managed two goals from just 0.37xG, whilst also creating one big chance. The 62-touch Sunderland ace managed 25 passes, and it’s clear that he played very progressively with six of those being recorded as key.
There is no doubt that Sunderland winger Watson has a shining career ahead of him, and with Le Bris being one of the top coaches when it comes to getting the best out of young stars, it should be an easy decision for the Frenchman to continue utilising the 18-year-old and ride the wave of his brilliant recent form.