Sunderland kick off their Championship campaign with a trip to Cardiff City this weekend.
Sunderland are in Wales for their opening game of the 2024/25 Championship season.
Regis Le Bris takes his side to the Welsh capital where he faces Erol Bulut’s Cardiff City in what is Le Bris’ first competitive game as Sunderland manager.
There’s a lot of pressure riding on the Sunderland owners and on sporting director Kristjaan Speakman for this Le Bris appointment to work out.
The Frenchman arrived after four months of searching for Michael Beale’s permanent successor at the Stadium of Light.
And he takes charge of a Sunderland side who desperately struggled in the second half of last season, achieving a massively disappointing 16th place finish in the Championship.
The players certainly need to prove themselves next season, and here we take a look at one who may surprise, one who needs to prove himself, and one who could struggle…
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Eliezer Mayenda may be Sunderland surprise package in 2024/25
Eliezer Mayenda featured eight times for Sunderland in the Championship last season.
Mayenda was then sent out on loan to Hibernian where he managed just two league appearances, returning to the Academy of Light for this pre-season.
And largely due to the lack of a new striker signing at Sunderland, Mayenda has played a starring role in his side’s friendly fixtures, leading the line more often than not, including in the last friendly vs Marseille.
Mayenda, although still a very raw player, has showed a lot of promise in pre-season and could lead the line vs Cardiff.
If he can get a run of games together and score a few goals, it would go down as a very positive season for the 19-year-old.
Patrick Roberts needs to prove himself with Sunderland in 2024/25
Patrick Roberts was without doubt Sunderland’s most disappointing player in 2023/24.
During a campaign where Sunderland desperately lacked Championship experience and know-how, Roberts couldn’t step up to the plate, failing to score in 32 Championship outings.
Despite that, he’s featured heavily in pre-season, suggesting that Le Bris favours the 27-year-old despite a lot of strengthening competition for the wide spots in the Sunderland XI.
If Roberts can get back on track then it’ll be like a new signing for the Black Cats.
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Pierre Ekwah faces make or break 2024/25 season with Sunderland
Another who disappointed last season was Pierre Ekwah, and he’s also someone who may struggle next season.
He’s carrying an injury and so his start to the new season is already hampered, having featured sporadically in pre-season.
Now with fresh competition in the centre of midfield from Alan Browne, and with Chris Rigg emerging as a strong option in the middle, Ekwah could quickly find himself down the pecking order.
Sunderland fans know he’s a player with class. But if he can’t get back to the levels he was showing in early 2023, then he could fall out of favour under Le Bris.